PESHAWAR: A petition challenging the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has been filed in the Peshawar High Court, a day after President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated emergency rule and imposed governor’s rule in the province.
The petition, filed by Advocate Salman, names President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi as respondents.
The petitioner has argued that the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule is unconstitutional, illegal and mala fide, and violates fundamental rights and the democratic mandate of the province.
The petition asks the high court to declare the measures unlawful and set them aside. It also seeks suspension of the notification imposing governor’s rule until the court delivers its final decision.
Opposition announces nationwide protests
Meanwhile, opposition leaders Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan have announced plans to challenge the federal government’s measures and launch protests against the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Achakzai said peaceful protests would be held across the country from Tuesday, adding that his party and allied groups would organise demonstrations according to their strength and announce democratic protests in districts across Pakistan.
He alleged that the public mandate had been taken away by force and said the people had supported the party of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. Achakzai also called for permission to meet the PTI founder and said the opposition remained open to negotiations for a democratic Pakistan.
Raja Nasir Abbas endorsed Achakzai’s position, alleging that the KP government had been brought down in the name of restoring peace and eliminating terrorism. He questioned whether previous decisions had improved security and said the Constitution was being disregarded.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the opposition had reviewed the consequences of imposing emergency rule in KP and would challenge the measures on every available forum, including Parliament.
Gohar demanded that the federal government withdraw its October 11 decisions and restore the provincial government. He said the party would also oppose the emergency-related resolution in Parliament and hold a parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday.
KP government’s powers transferred to governor
The legal challenge and opposition response come after the federal government suspended the PTI-led provincial government amid worsening security concerns and escalating tensions between Islamabad and the opposition party.
Under the measures announced on Sunday, the provincial government’s executive powers were transferred to the governor, while an 11-member advisory council was constituted to oversee provincial affairs.
The federal government also authorised the deployment of army personnel under Article 245 of the Constitution to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order.
Federal, KP governments ‘on the same page’
Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday that the federal and KP governments were now “on the same page” in tackling terrorism, stressing that the provincial government must lead the fight to achieve results.
Speaking at a provincial apex committee meeting chaired by KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Naqvi said the two governments had experienced significant differences over the past two-and-a-half years but were now aligned on security priorities.
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