Fazl accuses govt of 'misusing' Constitution when imposing emergency, governor's rule in KP

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam—Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday accused the government of misusing the Constitution and resorting to unconstitutional measures in imposing governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. The move had drawn criticism from the opposition, as well as Fazl , who had made efforts to reduce tensions between the federal and the KP governments. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday, Fazl noted the Centre’s stance was that it took the measures according to the Constitution. He alleged, “The government has misused the Constitution [… ] Here, just as the law is misused, the Constitution was misused.

” The senior politician asserted that by imposing governor’s rule in KP, transfer of power took place “by force”, rather than by public opinion. “I may have my reservations about the [KP] government, but this is not the way to enact change, by bringing about a revolution and upending everything. You must go to the people for that. ” He also blamed Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for failing to protect the sanctity of the Constitution and the Parliament. Responding to the JUI-F chief’s accusations, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said that governor’s rule in KP was only in place for six months, and the emergency was imposed in only a few districts affected by terrorism. “You have to be on one side, either remain with the state of Pakistan or be supportive of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the minister said. He noted that the situation in Balochistan was different to that of KP, where he said the chief…