Parliament’s joint session endorses K-P emergency, governor’s rule amid opposition uproar

ISLAMABAD: Two separate resolutions seeking to ratify the presidential proclamations imposing a state of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) were tabled during a joint session of parliament on Thursday amid opposition protests, with debate still underway on the federal government’s extraordinary measures in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-governed province. A day earlier, both houses of parliament approved an emergency in K-P by majority vote under Clause 1 of Article 232 of the Constitution, despite opposition lawmakers’ objections. First, the National Assembly (NA) and then the Senate debated on the matter, with opposition lawmakers strongly opposing the Centre’s decision and raising a hue and cry during the proceedings. However, the resolution was passed by a majority vote.  The Centre imposed emergency and governor’s rule in K-P on October 11, suspending the PTI-led provincial administration amid a dispute over the province’s security situation and counter-terrorism measures. The government has defended the move, citing a deterioration in law and order and an alleged failure by the provincial administration to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts with federal authorities. Today’s session was chaired by NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry initially presented the presidential proclamations concerning the imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule in the province. The emergency proclamation was laid before the joint sitting under Article 232(7) of the Constitution, while the proclamation imposing governor’s rule was presented under Article 234(3). Opposition lawmakers protested during the proceedings, with several members wearing black armbands. Chaudhry later moved a motion under Rule 232 of the Parliament (Joint Sitting) Rules, 1973, seeking to suspend certain sub-rules. Opposition members opposed the motion, prompting Speaker Sadiq to put it to a vote by asking lawmakers to stand. The procedural motion was adopted by 214 votes to 56. Following its approval, Chaudhry moved two separate resolutions before the joint sitting — one seeking ratification of the presidential proclamation of emergency under Article 232 of the Constitution and the other seeking approval of the proclamation imposing governor’s rule under Article 234.Subsequently, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar initiated debate on the two resolutions. He defended the imposition of emergency in K-P as a “last resort”, telling a joint session of parliament that the decision followed a worsening security situation and deliberations by the federal cabinet. Urging lawmakers to approve the proclamations under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, Tarar said the government was prepared to answer questions.  about the grounds for the move and rejected comparisons with martial law. “This option was exercised as a last resort,” he said. Tarar told the joint sitting that the K-P governor had written a detailed letter to the president and prime minister about conditions in the province, warning that the conflict involving terrorism was intensifying. He said the government had presented figures and other material to explain why it had invoked the constitutional provisions. According to the minister, the prime minister placed the matter before the federal cabinet after examining the material, allowing for collective consideration of the decision. He said the cabinet debated the matter for two and a half hours before recommending that the prime minister advise the president to exercise his powers under Articles 232 and 234 and impose an emergency in view of the seriousness of the situation.