ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: President Asif Ali Zardari imposed governor’s rule in Punjab for two months on Wednesday and made Governor Salman Taseer head of the provincial set-up.

“On the advice of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani under Article 237 of the Constitution, the president has imposed governor’s rule in Punjab with immediate effect for a period of two months,” the president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

He said that a proclamation had been issued to this effect under the signatures of the president soon after the prime minister met him at the Presidency on Wednesday evening.

Interestingly, the president did not suspend the provincial assembly, but barred Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and members of his cabinet from holding their offices.

The following is the text of the proclamation:

“WHEREAS I, Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on receipt of report from the Governor of the Punjab and other information made available, am satisfied that the situation has arisen in which the Government of the Province of the Punjab cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

“AND WHEREAS an unprecedented and unique constitutional void has been created in the province consequent upon the decision of the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan on February 25, 2009, in the matter of disqualification/unseating of Mian Shahbaz Sharif as member of Provincial Assembly.

“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 234 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, I hereby-

a) “Direct the Governor of the Punjab to assume on my behalf the functions of the Government of that Province;

b) Make the following incidental and consequential provision which appear to be necessary or desirable for giving effect to the objects of this proclamation: i) the chief minister and provincial ministers of that province shall forthwith cease to hold office; ii) in the exercise of the functions which the governor has been directed to assume hereinbefore stated, the governor shall act to such extent and subject to such conditions as I shall, from time to time, deem fit to give or impose.

“This order shall, unless revoked earlier, remain in force for a period of two months.”