Pakistan parliament endorses emergency, governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Islamabad/Lahore: Pakistan's parliament on Thursday endorsed the federal government's decision to impose emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northwestern province previously governed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

Opposition lawmakers protested during a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate, carrying placards with slogans such as "Emergency na manzoor" (Emergency is unacceptable).

The Shehbaz Sharif government on October 11 imposed emergency and governor's rule in the province, citing the provincial government's alleged disengagement from counterterrorism efforts amid rising militant violence.


The move followed weeks of political tensions between the Centre and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after the party announced a long march to Islamabad demanding the release of its jailed founder, Khan, and pressing for access to him in prison and his transfer to a hospital where his personal doctors could examine him.

The federal intervention effectively displaced the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government.

During Thursday's joint sitting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry moved a motion under Rule 232 of the Parliament (Joint Sitting) Rules, 1973, seeking the suspension of certain sub-rules.

He subsequently presented two resolutions, one concerning the proclamation of emergency under Article 232 of the Constitution and the other concerning governor's rule under Article 234.

Both resolutions were passed after a debate involving treasury and opposition members, according to a statement by the National Assembly.

The development followed separate sittings of the National Assembly and the Senate on Wednesday, when both Houses passed resolutions endorsing the imposition of emergency in the province.

However, the separate resolutions were not sufficient to approve the governor's rule, which required the endorsement of a joint sitting of parliament.

Under Article 234 of the Constitution, a proclamation of governor's rule ceases to be in force after two months unless approved by a joint sitting of parliament. It may be extended in periods of two months, subject to a maximum of six months.

Separately, a resolution endorsing the federal government's intervention was submitted in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday by the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) chief whip Rana Muhammad Arshad.

The resolution cited deteriorating law and order, rising terrorism and the need to protect citizens' lives and property as grounds for the intervention.

It commended Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for placing national security and the state's writ above political considerations, arguing that the government should not shy away from extraordinary measures for fear of political repercussions.

It maintained that the intervention was based on official data, reports from security agencies and ground realities, while stressing that any extraordinary measures required to restore peace must be taken in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

The resolution also expressed hope that the federal government's measures would curb terrorism, restore the writ of state institutions and bring lasting peace and normalcy to the province.

It presented the intervention as a matter of collective national responsibility rather than a confrontation between rival political parties.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, has long faced militant violence, including attacks by the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The province has been a major centre of militant activity amid a wider deterioration in Pakistan's security situation.

Amnesty International has raised concerns over reports of arbitrary detentions of political leaders and internet disruptions in the province.

In a statement on Monday, the rights organisation warned that emergency measures must not be used to suppress dissent or concentrate power and called for independent oversight of actions taken under the emergency framework.

The federal government has defended its intervention as necessary to improve counterterrorism efforts and restore order, while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has opposed the suspension of its provincial government.