Turmoil in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as govt hints at imposition of Governor's Rule

New Delhi: Amid the political turmoil in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and Law and Justice Minister Barrister Aqeel Malik has revealed that Governor's Rule was being considered in the region.

As a justification for the imposition of Governor's Rule, he cited "security and governance issues" in the province. Recently, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chief Minister Sohail Afridi staged an overnight sit-in outside Central Jail Rawalpindi (Adiala jail), after being denied a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan for the eighth consecutive time. Commenting on that incident, Malik said at a Geo News programme that Afridi and his team had "badly failed in having any sort of a workable situation".

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As per Dawn, Malik reportedly said, "Neither do they want to have any kind of coordination or cohesion with the Centre, nor do they take any action in areas where it was needed." He called the imposition of Governor's Rule in the province a constitutional measure in times of "absolute necessity". He said, "The situation in KP itself calls for a step to be taken in this regard so that the presence of an administrative structure is ensured there."

The imposition of the Governor's Rule in Pakistan depends on the Prime Minister's advice under Articles 232 and 234 of the constitution. However, the President has the sole authority to decide on the implementation.

Malik said, "The president can take this step on his own as well, the approval for which will later have to be taken by a joint sitting of Parliament. He further said that Governor's Rule, as per the Constitution, could be imposed initially for two months, and later extended if needed.

Meanwhile, PTI lawmaker Khurram Zeeshan has claimed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan is alive in Adiala jail amid rumours of his death. However, Khan’s son Kasim and other family members have demanded proof of the PTI chief being alive.