Senate, NA ratify KP emergency amid PTI protest, walkout

On Wednesday, both the Senate and National Assembly approved the proclamation of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as reported by Aaj News. President Asif Ali Zardari issued the order under Article 232 of the Constitution on October 11, following a two-and-a-half-hour meeting of the federal cabinet which reviewed the situation. The resolution was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry in the National Assembly, and subsequently presented to the Senate, where opposition members staged a walkout.

A joint sitting of Parliament has been summoned for October 15 to formally ratify governor's rule under Article 234. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar cited rising terrorism, internal disorder, and cross-border infiltration as reasons for the emergency, pointing to a sharp increase in terrorism incidents in the province. Tarar accused the provincial government of failing to handle the security situation and criticized former chief minister Sohail Afridi for prioritizing political activities over law and order.

The opposition, however, blamed the PTI leadership for rejecting a 2023 consensus on simultaneous elections and constitutional talks, leading to escalating tensions. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticized the provincial government, urging the federal government to find a middle ground for talks.