Vawda sees no end to KP emergency, governor’s rule within six months

Senator Faisal Vawda has said that the emergency and governor’s rule imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are unlikely to end within the next 90 or even 180 days.

Speaking on a television programme, Vawda said no political party currently had sufficient political capital. He added that political leaders and parties would now have to focus on work and responsibilities.

“This is part one. Parts two and three will also come,” the senator said, referring to the country’s evolving political situation.

Vawda praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s current performance. However, he ruled out the possibility of further governor’s rule, martial law or the introduction of a presidential system.

He also urged the government to address the concerns of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, saying his reservations should be taken seriously.

The senator described the country’s current direction as a move towards “positive democracy”. Discussing his election to the Senate, he said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) had voted for him, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had not.

Vawda also claimed that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had gone much further in his political approach than the founder of the MQM.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa entered a new administrative arrangement last week after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The decision was taken under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution following recommendations from the federal cabinet and reports concerning the province’s law and order situation.

Under the arrangement, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has assumed the functions of the provincial government on behalf of the federation, assisted by an 11-member advisory council. Parliament is exercising the legislative powers of the provincial assembly.