Islamabad:The National Assembly resumed its session at the Parliament House with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq presiding. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary presented the Proclamation of Emergency issued by the President on October 11 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to Radio Pakistan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar explained that presenting the Proclamation of Emergency to the House and securing its approval is a constitutional necessity. He highlighted that the decision was prompted by internal disturbances and the provincial government's inadequate response to terrorism. Tarar noted that 3,787 terrorist incidents were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past year, criticizing the provincial government for prioritizing political activities over security challenges.
The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reportedly informed both the President and the Prime Minister of the situation, expressing concerns over the provincial government's focus on politics rather than counterterrorism. Tarar emphasized that the emergency measure was a last resort, aimed at safeguarding the lives and property of the province’s residents after thorough deliberations.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the emergency was unavoidable due to escalating terrorism incidents and reaffirmed the government's commitment to combating terrorism. Farooq Sattar agreed that the province's security situation necessitated the imposition of the emergency.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal indicated that the emergency was a necessary response to the provincial government's failure to assure adequate counterterrorism efforts. He stressed the need for policy continuity and stability to drive economic development.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari noted the difficulty of the decision but emphasized its constitutionality, attributing the necessity of the emergency to the PTI leadership in the province. He called for a comprehensive societal and national approach to eradicate terrorism and urged the opposition to play a responsible role in this endeavor, underscoring the importance of consensus on fundamental issues.