Summary
- Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that the federal government is seriously considering imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa citing the province’s security situation and what he described as a failure to curb terrorism.
- Speaking to journalists at Parliament House, Chaudhry said the government was considering the imposition of an emergency under Article 232 of the Constitution because of the situation in the province.
- Other government officials have also discussed constitutional options while Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that talk of imposing governor’s rule or an emergency was premature and that the government’s position should be based on verified information.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that the federal government is seriously considering imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa citing the province’s security situation and what he described as a failure to curb terrorism.
Speaking to journalists at Parliament House, Chaudhry said the government was considering the imposition of an emergency under Article 232 of the Constitution because of the situation in the province.
He said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would cooperate with the federal government if an emergency were imposed. Chaudhry added that the government was prepared to bear whatever political cost might result from such a decision.
According to the minister terrorism has increased rapidly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with civilians and security personnel losing their lives. He alleged that the provincial government had failed to control the law-and-order situation.
Chaudhry also said that terrorism was a problem in Balochistan but claimed that the provincial government there was taking measures to address the situation. He alleged that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was creating obstacles for the federal government’s efforts to counter terrorism.
The minister’s comments come amid an ongoing political and constitutional debate over possible federal intervention in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Other government officials have also discussed constitutional options while Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that talk of imposing governor’s rule or an emergency was premature and that the government’s position should be based on verified information.
The proposal, therefore remains under consideration, and the statements reported so far do not indicate that an emergency has already been imposed in the province.
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