Islamabad: The National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday approved President Asif Ali Zardari’s October 11 proclamation of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by a majority vote after government and opposition lawmakers debated the intervention.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry presented the resolution after question hour was suspended. Opposition members participated in the proceedings without the loud protests seen during previous parliamentary confrontations.
The resolution endorsed the emergency proclamation under Article 232 of the Constitution. Approval by the Senate remains pending.
The separate proclamation imposing governor’s rule falls under Article 234 and requires consideration by a joint sitting for an extension beyond two months.
Defending the emergency, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said internal disturbances, cross border infiltration and shortcomings in provincial counterterrorism coordination had become a threat to national security.
He said KP recorded 3787 terrorist incidents between October 15, 2025, and October 9, 2026, compared with 2911 during 2021 to 2024.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan rejected the intervention, saying his party opposed terrorism and wanted action under the National Action Plan.
He questioned the detention of party lawmakers and disputed the government’s account of earlier negotiations. Gohar said PTI had been willing to amend the KP Police Act and welcomed continued dialogue.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari blamed PTI’s provincial leadership for contributing to the crisis but said emergency could not continue indefinitely. He urged both sides to resume negotiations and build a collective response to terrorism.
Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai questioned the ruling coalition’s electoral mandate. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said the October 3 talks had been cordial and supported reviving the negotiating committees if needed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended part of the proceedings. The House will meet again at 11am on October 16.
