Islamabad/Lahore, Oct 15 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.
Lawmakers from the government and opposition debated the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Thursday’s joint sitting of Pakistan’s parliament.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government had been left with “no option” but to take the step, while opposition leaders rejected allegations that the provincial government supported militancy.
Naqvi urged the opposition to stick to the facts while recounting the dialogue with the government, saying the ruling coalition had tried until the last moment to avoid imposing emergency and governor’s rule.
The minister accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of not accompanying the army during operations against militants, alleging that the chief minister had cited the political cost of doing so.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the country was going through a “very fragile situation” and rejected allegations that the party or its provincial government supported terrorists.
“The prime minister has alleged that we are supporting terrorists. We are disappointed to hear that. You have to apologise to the entire population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and us,” Gohar said.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai blamed what he called “faulty decisions” by the country’s rulers for the current situation. He said the opposition was ready for talks on strengthening parliament and eradicating terrorism, and would offer unconditional support if discussions focused on those issues.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq objected to Achakzai’s criticism of his conduct of the proceedings, citing parliamentary rules and disruptions in the House. Sadiq also said recordings of members’ speeches deemed “anti-state” would not be uploaded on the National Assembly’s social media accounts.
Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas accused the government’s delegation of derailing talks with the opposition, including the October 3 negotiations. The Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen chief said more time should have been allowed for the talks to succeed and called for addressing public concerns instead of trading accusations.
On October 3, talks between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s to avert the party’s planned October 4 march to Islamabad ended in deadlock, with disagreements over counterterrorism cooperation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and access to jailed Imran Khan.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to clarify the agenda and purpose of its planned march to Islamabad, which had remained within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
She said President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari favoured dialogue but considered terrorism a red line, and urged the opposition not to lecture the government on patriotism.
The PPP is part of the coalition in charge of the federal government alongside the PML(N) led by Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and his brother Nawaz.
(PTI News)
