National Assembly, Senate pass resolutions endorsing Centre's imposition of emergency in KP

ISLAMABAD: Shortly after the National Assembly passed a resolution endorsing the federal government’s imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, the Senate also gave its approval for the measure. The Centre had imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Sunday, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. The move followed weeks of political tensions between the Centre and the PTI after the latter announced a long march to Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tabled the motions regarding the proclamation of emergency before both Houses. Senate proceedings In the Senate, the resolution was passed amid the opposition’s outcry, with PTI senators staging a walkout.

The Senate’s approval followed a heated debate between treasury and opposition members, during which Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the procedural propriety presenting the resolution in the House and getting it approved. He argued that a “constitutional resolution” had been laid before the House in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate. “Under Article 232, a copy of [the proclamation of] emergency has been laid before the House. An attempt to bypass the constitutional procedure cannot succeed,” he said, adding that the requirement of a seven-day notice for tabling a resolution did not apply to one presented under a constitutional necessity. “If its opponents have any objections, they should reject the resolution through their vote after the debate. We cannot deviate from the Constitution and rules of the House,” he said. As opposition voiced opposition to the resolution, Senate Chairperson Yousuf Raza Gilani…