Senator Faisal Vawda says the emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may continue beyond 180 days while ruling out martial law and a presidential system.
Senator Faisal Vawda has said the emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could continue beyond 180 days, suggesting that the province’s current administrative arrangement may not end anytime soon.
Speaking on a television programme, Vawda said neither the emergency nor governor’s rule was likely to end within the next 90 or even 180 days. He also said no political party currently had sufficient political capital and argued that political leaders and parties would now have to concentrate on their work and responsibilities.
“This is part one. Parts two and three will also come,” Vawda said, referring to the evolving political situation in the country.
The senator praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s current performance but ruled out the possibility of further governor’s rule, martial law or the introduction of a presidential system.
Vawda also urged the government to address the concerns of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, saying his reservations should be taken seriously.
Describing the country’s current direction as a move towards “positive democracy,” Vawda also discussed his election to the Senate. He said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) had voted for him, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had not.
He further claimed that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had gone much further in his political approach than the founder of the MQM.
KP’s New Administrative Arrangement
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa entered a new administrative arrangement last week after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The decision followed recommendations from the federal cabinet and reports concerning the province’s law and order situation. The constitutional provisions cited for the move were Articles 232 and 234.
Under the arrangement, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi assumed the functions of the provincial government on behalf of the federation, with assistance from an 11-member advisory council. Parliament is exercising the legislative powers of the provincial assembly.
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