Pakistan’s government and the PPP have reached an understanding to bring in both an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources said.
According to the same sources, federal authorities have decided to rely on Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution to carry this out, with each article serving a different purpose.
Articles 232 and 234 invoked in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Under Article 232, an emergency would be imposed to tackle terrorism, external aggression and unrest, the sources said. Article 234 would be used over alleged shortcomings in running the provincial government as the Constitution requires. The sources added that, under this second provision, the president would hand administrative powers to the provincial governor once the federal government recommends it.
Governor Kundi outlines report and parliamentary approval steps
Earlier, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi told a private television talk show that an emergency, governor’s rule or both could be imposed at once, and that one could apply in one area while the other applied elsewhere. He said he would send the prime minister a report on the law and order situation, possibly later tonight, and would provide it whenever the president or prime minister asked.
Kundi explained that the prime minister would forward a summary to the president after receiving that report. He also said parliament would have 10 days to approve an emergency once it is imposed, and that decisions would follow the federal cabinet’s recommendations.
