Report: FT Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD– President Asif Ali Zardari has issued a presidential proclamation imposing emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan in view of the province’s grave emergency situation. The proclamation will take effect immediately.
According to the proclamation, terrorist activities of exceptional intensity have become a serious threat to the lives and property of the people, while terrorist attacks on government installations, critical infrastructure and law-enforcement agencies have increased.
The proclamation states that the provincial government has failed to demonstrate the required resolve and take effective measures to control terrorism and lawlessness. A report by the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has pointed to a breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the province and the provincial government’s failure to conduct affairs in accordance with the Constitution.
According to the presidential proclamation, immediate constitutional action has been deemed necessary in view of the grave emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It has been declared that, under the prevailing circumstances, it is not possible to run the provincial government in accordance with the Constitution.
Under the proclamation, the federal government may direct the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to assume all or some of the functions of the provincial government. In addition to performing provincial government functions assigned by the federal government, the governor may also exercise, in accordance with its directions, all or some of the powers of provincial institutions and authorities other than the provincial assembly.
The proclamation further states that the powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will be exercised by Parliament or under its authority.
According to the presidential proclamation, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and the advocate general will immediately vacate their offices.
The presidential proclamation will take effect immediately.
