ISLAMABAD – The political chessboard is shifting. With the PTI’s long march keeping political tensions alive, the government reached the point of considering emergency as its last resort.
The government, after giving last chance to the main opposition party [PTI] for the talks, has seemingly now been reached on an option to prefer imposing ‘selective emergency’ in the KP province. The option of enforcing ‘emergency’ under [Article-233] seems to be preferred over the ‘Governor’s rule’ [under Article-234], background discussions with the constitutional experts and politicians revealed.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari held a short meeting to discuss the current security and political situation with the special focus on KP province. The matter related to imposition of Governor’s Rule or Emergency also came under discussion, background discussions with the senior parliamentarians revealed.
A religio-political party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman representing the opposition also met the Prime Minister on national and political matters. Sources claimed that Maulana Fazlur Rahman tried to convince the premier to avoid the option of ‘emergency’ as the last resort.He made an attempt for a third round of talks between the opposition and the government. In a relevant development, the federal cabinet has been called to meet today to discuss the matter related to the imposition of emergency in the province and other relevant options.
“The ministers and advisors were already asked to stay in the federal capital till further order as the cabinet meeting was expected,” shared a senior cabinet member, desiring not to be named.
The minister said that the cabinet members will be briefed about the current and past scenario related to law and order situation and terrorism activities in the KP province.
“The emergency could also be imposed through administrative order but it was preferred to deliberate and discuss in the federal cabinet,” he said.
Parliamentary sources said the government is also contemplating to immediately summon a special joint session of the parliament to take final nod from the parliament. They said the summary has yet formally not been moved to call the session but it is expected to be summoned at the start of next week.
Talking to The Nation, former secretary election commission of Pakistan Kanwar Dilshad proposed that the President has the authority to take responsibility in his hands. “I think soon emergency will be imposed. The President, under article 233 and 234, should take control in his hand to avoid further confrontation,” he said the fundamental articles (article4, article7, article14, article 15, article 16, article17, article18, and article24 are suspended after imposing article-233 of the constitution.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, talking to the media, has also hinted at the last option to impose an emergency in the province any time in the coming days.
“You can ask Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Barrister Gohar about my efforts in this regard. Now the things are not in my hands,” said the interior minister, hinting at imposition of emergency in the KP.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, talking to the newsmen, said that the imposition of emergency is not the preferred option but the situation leading to this option.The constitutional experts shared that the governor’s rule 12 times has been imposed in different provinces. They said the first governor’s rule was imposed only one and half year after the country came into being.
