From Dawn · Arifa Noor · · 2m
KP government dismissed after emergency rule
Pakistan's KP province faces emergency and governor's rule after PTI government dismissed.
In brief
Pakistan's KP province faces emergency and governor's rule after PTI government dismissed. Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been placed under emergency rule and governor's administration following the dismissal of the PTI government. Originally reported by Dawn.
KP government dismissed
SUNDAY brought what was being whispered about in Islamabad for days: the dismissal of the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Media reports emergency possibility
All day long, the mainstream media kept reporting on the possibility of an emergency, adding that the prime minister would hold a cabinet meeting on Sunday morning to make the 'final' decision.
Last-minute political meetings
But by Saturday evening, there were many other meetings as politicians from the government and opposition sides met or held consultations publicly and behind the scenes.
Red herrings and announcements
These were last-ditch efforts to avoid taking a 'painful decision'. The call was simply to inform the maulana about the decision.
Emergency and governor's rule
Soon it was announced that both an emergency and governors' rule had been imposed.
Press conference justification
The cabinet meeting was followed by a bunch of ministers, including of law and interior, holding a press conference to justify their decision.
PTI's muted reaction
The PTI’s reaction was muted as it was limited to social media.
Leaders arrested
Social media posts claimed that the chief minister, Sohail Afridi, as well as other officials, including the KP Assembly Speaker, had been picked up.
Advisory council formed
By the evening, an advisory council had been put together, in which individuals were given portfolios.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman's claim
Maulana Fazlur Rahman alleged that the government had backed out of talks.
Federal government logic
The federal government has imposed an emergency as well as governor’s rule. The logic is hard to understand.
Political consequences
In the coming days, there will be much hand-wringing over the role of the PPP and the PML-N in dismissing a democratically elected government.
Terrorism justification
Terrorism’s reincarnation in KP is a complex subject. It cannot be tackled in an article on politics.
Governance failure
These are all issues the lengthy caretaker government in KP faced and apparently failed to resolve.
PTI's future
For this is why a populace tiring of the PTI voted back the party with a two-thirds majority in the provincial assembly.
The one thing
Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been placed under emergency rule and governor's administration following the dismissal of the PTI government.
