Baku:The National Assembly has adopted a resolution approving the Proclamation of Emergency issued by the President on October 11 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The resolution was moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary.
According to Radio Pakistan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that presenting the Proclamation of Emergency before the House and obtaining its approval is a constitutional requirement. He highlighted that the decision was driven by internal disturbances and the provincial government's inadequate response to terrorism. Over the past year, 3,787 terrorist incidents have been recorded in the province.
The Law Minister criticized the provincial government for prioritizing political activities over security challenges. He mentioned that the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had informed both the President and the Prime Minister about these issues through a letter. Azam Nazeer Tarar explained that the emergency was a last resort, aimed at protecting the lives and property of the people.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif supported the decision, citing the increasing terrorism incidents as justification for the emergency. He reiterated the government's commitment to combating terrorism decisively. Farooq Sattar also deemed the emergency necessary given the security situation.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal noted that the emergency was imposed due to the provincial government's failure to assure effective counterterrorism measures. He stressed the importance of policy continuity and stability for economic progress, stating that no one would be allowed to impede this process.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari commented that the government made every effort to avoid the emergency but ultimately had to take this difficult decision. He attributed the responsibility for the situation to the PTI leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Emphasizing a collective fight against terrorism, he urged the opposition to act responsibly and seek consensus on fundamental issues.
The House is scheduled to reconvene on Friday at 11 a.m.