Pakistan Imposes Emergency Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday imposed emergency and governors’ rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, immediately removing Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other provincial officials and shifting key powers toward the federal government. The proclamation, announced by the President’s House, took effect immediately under Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution. It permits the federal government to direct the provincial governor to assume some or all functions of the provincial government. The powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly are to be exercised by Parliament or under its authority. The president acted after the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, endorsed recommending emergency measures. The Prime Minister’s House sent formal advice to the President’s House, which said the decision followed rising terrorist incidents and a breakdown in constitutional machinery. The proclamation also cited a report from the provincial governor. The federal government’s stated justification is that the provincial administration failed to take effective action against terrorism and lawlessness.