• Questions constitutionality of emergency under Article 232
• Seeks immediate withdrawal or revocation of proclamation by president and federal govt

ISLAMABAD: Senator Kamran Murtaza of the JUI-F has submitted a resolution in the Senate opposing the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Senate is likely to meet today (Tuesday). The resolution states that the House “expresses serious concern regarding any action that undermines provincial autonomy, the mandate of elected provincial institutions, democratic governance or the constitutional rights of the people”.

Referring to Article 232 of the Constitution, Senator Murtaza argued that the provision begins with the words, “If the president is satisfied that a grave emergency exists…”.

He contended that the presidential satisfaction required under Article 232 was lacking and that the proclamation of emergency appeared to have been issued mechanically by the president.

“The use of the words ‘if the president is satisfied’ makes the existence of the constitutionally prescribed conditions a fundamental prerequisite to the exercise of this extraordinary power. Therefore, if the president endorsed the advice tendered by the prime minister and issued the impugned proclamation without due consideration of the relevant circumstances or without the requisite constitutional satisfaction, such action is arbitrary, mechanical and an unconstitutional exercise of power.”

Referring to the proclamation of emergency issued by the president under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution in KP, the resolution states that “this House reaffirms its commitment to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, provincial autonomy and the fundamental rights of the people”.

The resolution further argues that at the time the summary was approved, the presidential satisfaction required under Article 232 of the Constitution was lacking.

It calls for the proclamation to be rescinded and revoked immediately, rather than waiting for the 10-day period for parliamentary approval to expire, and for it to be declared ultra vires the Constitution.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026