Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that the President, on the advice of the Prime Minister, today promulgated an emergency and Governor's Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

He was addressing a joint news conference in Islamabad on Sunday along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and MNA Samar Bilour.

Azam Nazeer Tarar said under the constitution, the provincial government led by Chief Minister has been ceased to function. He said that all powers previously exercised by the Chief Minister, the provincial cabinet and the advisors, have been handed over to the Governor.

The Minister for Law said an eleven-member Advisory Council has been constituted, which will work under the Governor, to run the government's affairs.

He further said that under another proclamation, a separate Secretariat has been established under the Governor and the Chief Secretary to run affairs of twelve districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which will come directly under the Federation.

Azam Nazeer Tarar said under Article 245 of the Constitution, army has also been deployed to assist the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in maintaining law and order.

He said promulgation of emergency is a purely constitutional option available by the Prime Minister under the constitution.

He further said that fundamental grounds for imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the deteriorating law and order and lack of support by the KP government in the fight against terrorism.  

Azam Nazeer Tarar said 196 percent increase has been recorded in incidents of terrorism and extremism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the past two and half years. He further said that similarly, incidents of damaging installations, properties, martyrdom of law enforcement agencies’ personnel, have also increased in the province.

The Minister for Law said under the constitution, separate sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate as well as aJoint sitting of the Parliament are being summoned within next few days to endorse these steps.