• Lawmakers claim decision was taken months ago, call negotiations a ‘drama’
• Stage noisy protest before walking out of Senate
• PTI alleges terrorism is being used as pretext to target party
ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s approval of a resolution endorsing the federal government’s imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday followed fierce protests by opposition members, who chanted slogans before eventually walking out of the upper house.
A heated debate between treasury and opposition members was witnessed during the proceedings, during which Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the procedure followed in presenting the resolution and securing its approval.
He argued that a “constitutional resolution” had been laid before the House in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate.
As the opposition voiced its objections to the resolution, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani urged members to exercise patience.
“This is not a classroom, do not make noise,” he remarked as opposition senators continued chanting slogans.
PTI Senator Humayun Mohmand said independent Senator Faisal Vawda had predicted months ago that governor’s rule would be imposed. He alleged that terrorism, cited as the reason for the measure, was merely an excuse and that the real “target is the PTI”.
“The decision to impose governor’s rule and emergency was taken months ago,” he alleged. Seemingly referring to the creation of Bangladesh, he said the federal government’s decisions since 1970 had proved wrong.
‘Just a drama’
PTI-backed Senator Hamid Khan also argued that there “seems to be some other objectives behind governor’s rule and emergency”. Referring to negotiations between the Centre and the opposition ahead of the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in KP, he alleged that the talks “were just a drama” and were held “only to deceive the people”.
“The real decision was taken elsewhere long ago,” he claimed.
He further said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who had tried to mediate between the Centre and the opposition, had stated that a decision was taken while negotiations were under way.
“Governments formed on the basis of Form-47 do not have the real mandate,” he added.
Mr Khan regretted that after the 26th Amendment, “there is neither any Constitution nor an independent judicial system”.
“The judiciary has been stripped of its independence, which closes the avenues to challenge unconstitutional steps,” he said.
“Article 232 has to be presented before the House for debate, not just for saying yes. Decision was taken by those whom Constitution does not allow to take the decision, but they have complete dominance over Constitution. At this time, neither is there any Constitution nor any court in the country,” he added.
PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz lashed out at federal ministers who had been accusing the party of facilitating terrorism.
“You talk about terrorism, what do you know about terrorism? People of KP sacrificed their children and picked up bodies. […] Did we support Pakistan or terrorists? Those calling people of KP terrorists should be ashamed. These are valiant people who saved this country,” he said. Mr Aziz said terrorism stemmed from unemployment, hunger and the lack of hospitals, water and education.
Another PTI senator, Zeeshan Khanzada, accused the federal government of “abducting” Sohail Afridi, who had been rendered non-functional as KP chief minister following the imposition of governor’s rule, as well as other PTI MPAs.
JUI-F’s Kamran Murtaza said the opposition’s resolution against governor’s rule should also have been included in the day’s agenda, but it had been returned with objections.
Mr Murtaza argued that the relevant material required for endorsing the enforcement of Articles 232 and 234, which deal with the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule, had not been presented to the House. He added that senators had to obtain the material through social media.
Members could not be satisfied with a decision until complete information was made available, he said.
Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2026
