PTI terms proposed emergency in 12 K-P districts violation of 18th Amendment
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday criticised the reported federal government plan to impose an emergency in 12 districts of the province, saying the move would violate the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
“I would like to inform you of the emergency and the fact that a separate administrative structure has been set up in the 12 districts. This is a serious violation of the 18th Amendment, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has always taken the credit for the amendment,” said PTI Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai in a video statement.
The statement came after reports emerged that the federal government completed preparations to impose an emergency in 12 districts of K-P and transfer administrative and police powers to the centre amid the province’s worsening security situation.
The federal government has repeatedly threatened to impose an emergency or governor’s rule in K-P over the worsening security situation, with K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi saying that such a move would be taken if necessary. The PTI has opposed the proposal, with party leaders warning they would resign from the national and provincial assemblies if governor’s rule or an emergency was imposed.
Yousafzai further said that the PTI had never obstructed the fight against terrorism and had always supported our institutions.
“However, we do insist that all stakeholders here be taken into confidence before any action is taken,” he added.
Yousafzai said an all-parties conference (APC) had already been held, at which political parties and other stakeholders had agreed on a 15-point declaration that was sent to the federal government.
“By implementing this declaration, the matter can be resolved,” he said.
He predicted that a large number of people would reach Swabi on October 11, arguing that the protest would dispel the government’s misconception that people would not turn out.
Rejecting the suggestion that emergency rule or governor’s rule could resolve the situation, Yousafzai said the country needed a political solution
“I do not think that the emergency and the governor’s rule are the solution to this problem. This is never the solution. Pakistan needs a political resolution and stability, and political stability can never be achieved through the indiscriminate use of force against political parties and political workers,” he added.
Yousafzai urged the government “to abandon its stubbornness and ego, come to the negotiating table and find a solution.”
PTI leader maintained that the party had not made “any illegal or unconstitutional demands,” adding that the party wants the “High Court and Supreme Court decisions to be implemented, the restrictions on meetings with party founder Imran Khan, and him to be transferred to a hospital.”
He also called for hearings in Imran’s cases and relief and release for his sisters and wife.
Yousafzai also expressed concern over the arrests of provincial ministers, members of the National Assembly, members of the provincial assembly and political workers in K-P.
He said the arrests were particularly troubling amid the ongoing political crisis and argued that negotiations and seriousness were needed to resolve it.
Responding to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s remarks that the PTI should abandon confrontational politics and avoid extremism, Yousafzai asked, “Bilawal Bhutto, is raising your voice for your legitimate rights extremism? Is raising your voice for your leader extremism?”
“The deterioration in the political environment so far is entirely the result of the irresponsible and threatening statements made by federal ministers,” Yousafzai said.
With tensions running high on both sides, he said reconciliation and mediation offered a way forward. “I have heard that Maulana Fazlur Rehman has become active in playing a mediating role. I would welcome this, and the PTI would certainly welcome any mediation,” he said.
“I do not believe that problems will be resolved through the use of force. Everyone should realise the difficult situation and the quagmire the country is in. All the problems we are facing can be resolved through negotiations,” the spokesperson said.
He added, “I hope the government will refrain from taking any undemocratic steps that could push the country further into a dead end.”
Centre prepares to impose emergency in 12 districts of K-P
According to sources, a high-level meeting is expected to take place today, with the president, prime minister and senior military officials likely to attend.
“The meeting is expected to review reports from national security institutions, after which various proposals concerning the imposition of an emergency or governor’s rule could be considered,” sources said.
Under the proposed plan, an emergency would be imposed in 12 districts, comprising eight merged tribal districts and four settled districts.
The eight merged tribal districts were Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, Bajaur, Mohmand, North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Lower Waziristan. The four settled districts were Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bannu and Lakki Marwat.
The sources said a special administrative structure, separate from the provincial government’s existing framework, was being considered for these districts.
The emergency was initially proposed for two months, after which the situation would be reviewed, and the arrangement could be extended, they added.
Read: Bilawal urges PTI to return to political engagement, says governor’s rule in K-P would be ‘atomic bomb’
Under the proposed structure, a secretariat headed by a Grade 21 secretary would be established, with a Grade 21 police officer also appointed to the secretariat.
“Four to six additional administrative officers would be part of the secretariat, responsible for administration, finance, development and planning, and other matters,” the sources said.
The officers would be appointed directly by the federal government, they added.
According to the sources, under the proposed administrative arrangement, the deputy commissioners and district police officers of the relevant districts would report to the secretariat, along with the additional inspector general of police.
The provincial government had also been informed of the proposed decision, they said.
The sources added that the relevant provisions of Articles 232 to 234 of the Constitution could be examined while considering the proposed measures.
These constitutional provisions provided different mechanisms for federal intervention under certain extraordinary circumstances during an emergency, they said.
Read more: K-P emergency proposal not linked to PTI long march: Tariq Fazal
“However, the constitutional procedures and legal implications of imposing an emergency and introducing governor’s rule were distinct. The final decision would therefore depend on the applicable constitutional requirements,” the sources added.
Long march continues
Meanwhile, K-P Information Minister Shafi Jan said that the long march led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was proceeding peacefully and would travel from Charsadda to Mardan.
CM Afridi would address the public and party workers at various locations during the march, while large numbers of people from Charsadda, Mardan and other areas would join the convoy, Jan said, and participants would stay overnight in Mardan.
“The large public participation in the long march has left the federal government rattled,” he said.
Shafi Jan said the continued press conferences by federal ministers were evidence of “their fear and panic.”
He alleged that the federal government was deeply afraid of CM Afridi, who had been elected by the province’s 45 million people.
“The federal government, which has stolen the public mandate, should understand that the people have rejected its ministers’ negative narrative,” the information minister said.
Threats of governor’s rule, emergency loom
The issue of Governor’s Rule and emergency has become a major point of contention between the federal and K-P government. On September 21, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government was consulting the law ministry on legal options for the province, including Governor’s Rule, if the PTI proceeded with its long march.
Two days later, however, Information Minister Atta Tarar ruled out any plan to impose Governor’s Rule, saying the federal government had no intention of removing the PTI administration.
Some federal ministers publicly raised the possibility of federal intervention in K-P. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam said consultations were under way on the “constitutional and legal option” of imposing Governors’ Rule.
CM Afridi, however, rejected the warnings and said he would not retreat from his position because of threats of Governors’ Rule or an emergency. He also said PTI supporters could take to the streets at short notice if an attempt was made to remove him.
However, amid the speculation, just days before the PTI’s planned long march, the prime minister and the president formed a committee last week to negotiate with the PTI and other opposition parties over the march, while expressing concern over the province’s deteriorating law and order situation.
The government and opposition parties held negotiations over two days, and the talks initially appeared to be bearing fruit. However, just as the two sides were nearing agreement on most of the contentious issues, a deadlock emerged, bringing the negotiation process to a halt.
The government blamed the K-P government, particularly CM Afridi, for the deadlock and failure of the negotiations. The PTI, however, claimed that the talks broke down over its demand for a meeting with the party’s founder, which the government refused to accept.
As the negotiation process collapsed, CM Afridi began his long march towards Islamabad, further escalating tensions between the two sides, with both sides continuing to trade allegations.
As tensions peaked, PM Shehbaz once again entered the fray and extended an olive branch to the PTI, saying the government was prepared to engage with the opposition if the party ended its long march and sit-ins.
The PTI, however, rejected the offer as its march continued towards Islamabad, entering its sixth day on Friday. The convoy moved towards Charsadda, with CM Afridi leading the procession.