Ikhtiar Wali Khan, the prime minister’s coordinator for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa affairs, said on Monday that Governor’s Rule in the province could stay in place for as long as needed, and could run until the next elections if necessary. He said the polls would go ahead as scheduled and that nothing would be permitted to derail the electoral process.
His remarks came a day after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the imposition of Governor’s Rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to maintain law and order.
Chief minister’s status and the stalled provincial assembly
Wali said Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was in protective custody and had handed himself over voluntarily. He also claimed that the chief minister and provincial lawmakers had effectively been suspended.
He added that the assembly had not been functioning, because ministers were occupied with a protest long march rather than running the province. Wali also said accountability would be impartial and that no one would be exempt.
Presidential proclamation cites rising militant attacks
According to official details, the president signed a summary for the emergency and Governor’s Rule under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, following advice from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The proclamation pointed to a sharp rise in terrorist incidents and serious security threats as justification for the extraordinary measures.
It said attacks on government installations and law enforcement agencies had grown, creating significant risks to security and public order. The document also alleged that the provincial government had not done enough to tackle terrorism and lawlessness.
It further cited a governor’s report describing disruptions to the constitutional system, and alleged that the provincial government was not operating in line with the Constitution.
