Naqvi defends KP emergency, says government had no...

Summary

• Naqvi said the federal government had wanted a meeting of the provincial apex committee and a joint public commitment to fight terrorism.
• Tarar argued that Article 234 allowed governor’s rule where a provincial government could not be carried on in accordance with the Constitution.
• The law minister said the government was prepared to respond to questions from opposition members.

AI Generated Summary

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has defended the federal government’s decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the Centre had exhausted its options after efforts to address security concerns through dialogue failed.

Speaking during a joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday, Naqvi urged opposition lawmakers to present an accurate account of negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He said the federal government had made repeated attempts to bring the provincial administration on board regarding counterterrorism efforts.

The joint session was discussing resolutions seeking parliamentary endorsement of the emergency imposed under Article 232 of the Constitution and governor’s rule under Article 234. The federal government announced the measures on October 11, accusing the PTI-led provincial administration of disengaging from the fight against terrorism.

The decision followed weeks of political tension between the Centre and the PTI. The party had announced a march towards Islamabad to demand the release of its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.

Naqvi said the federal government had wanted a meeting of the provincial apex committee and a joint public commitment to fight terrorism. He said the proposed statement would have demonstrated that both governments were prepared to work together against militant threats.

Recalling an incident in February in which security personnel were killed, the interior minister said the government had requested the KP chief minister to attend the funerals of the fallen personnel. He alleged that this was the last occasion on which the chief minister attended the funeral of an army officer or soldier.

Naqvi also referred to the October 3 negotiations, saying participants had expressed a clear position on counterterrorism and agreed that the issue was important for Pakistan. He maintained that the federal government had tried its best to resolve differences before taking what he described as an unavoidable step.

Parliament votes to advance emergency resolutions

The joint sitting began amid strong protests from opposition lawmakers, who carried placards rejecting the emergency and chanted slogans against the federal government’s decision.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry moved a motion to suspend certain procedural rules so that the two resolutions could be presented. The motion was passed by 214 votes to 56, despite opposition members raising objections.

Chaudhry subsequently introduced resolutions concerning the emergency under Article 232 and governor’s rule under Article 234. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar explained the constitutional provisions and said arrangements had been made to manage provincial affairs during the emergency.

Tarar argued that Article 234 allowed governor’s rule where a provincial government could not be carried on in accordance with the Constitution. He also accused the former PTI-led administration of failing to respond adequately to repeated calls for stronger action against terrorism.