Islamabad, Oct. 11 -- Pakistan on Sunday declared an emergency in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province citing the deteriorating law and order situation, bringing the provincial government led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party to an end.
An emergency allows Pakistan's federal government to assume key executive and legislative powers in a province during a security crisis or breakdown of constitutional governance.
President Asif Ali Zardari proclaimed Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of the Constitution, citing rising terrorist attacks and a breakdown of constitutional machinery in the northwestern province, according to the presidential declaration.
Under the proclamation, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and the advocate general will immediately vacate their offices.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the only province where Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was in power.
The move comes amid an ongoing protest march led by Afridi, who is pressing for
Khan's release and access to medical treatment for him, the release of his sisters and supporters arrested ahead of the protest, and a medical examination of his wife, Bushra Bibi.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.