Photo: Collected
Pakistan’s federal government has declared a state of emergency in the country’s north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The step was taken on Sunday under two security-related articles of the constitution. The province is governed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan; as a result of the emergency, the powers of the provincial government it leads have effectively been suspended.
In a post on social media, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari said he had approved the cabinet’s recommendation.
Earlier on Sunday, the matter was discussed at a cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting.
According to a statement issued by Shehbaz Sharif’s office, the cabinet members reviewed the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They took into consideration at the time the provincial government’s ‘deliberate inaction’ in curbing terrorism.
However, details were not given of exactly what kind of administrative measures will be taken under the emergency and how the provincial government’s powers will be exercised.
Centre-province dispute over curbing terrorism
A political dispute is under way between Pakistan’s federal government and PTI. Amid this, the declaration of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could create fresh tension. It is Imran Khan’s party that runs the province’s government. The federal government alleges that the provincial administration is not playing a proper role in curbing terrorism.
The activities of armed groups and a security crisis are long-standing in this north-western province of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. However, the federal government’s statement did not spell out in detail on the basis of which specific incident or information from the recent situation the allegation against the provincial government was made.
Programme towards Islamabad demanding Imran Khan’s release
Meanwhile, PTI is preparing for a march towards the capital Islamabad; its demand is Imran Khan’s release. Imran Khan has been in jail for more than three years, yet he has significant public support across Pakistan.
The political dispute between the government and Imran Khan and his party is long-standing. On one hand there is PTI’s movement demanding his release, on the other the provincial administration’s dispute with the federal government; in such a situation, the decision to declare an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has heightened fears of a new political confrontation.
However, the authorities have said nothing clear on whether the declaration of emergency has any direct link with PTI’s proposed programme towards Islamabad. Source: Al Jazeera
