ISLAMABAD: A joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday approved resolutions endorsing the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by a majority vote, with 214 members voting in favour and 56 against.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tabled the two resolutions under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, respectively.
The approval came after the federal government imposed emergency measures and governor’s rule in the province on October 11, citing the provincial government’s disengagement from efforts to combat terrorism.
Speaking during the joint sitting, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said a special mechanism had been established to run the province’s affairs during the period of emergency and governor’s rule.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, moved a motion under rule 32 of the Parliament (Joint Sitting) Rules, 1973 that the requirements of sub-rule (2) of rule 14 and sub-rule (5) of rule 15 of the said Rules be suspended in respect of notice period for moving a resolution to approve the resolutions as required by clause (7) of Article 232 and clause (3) of Article 234 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The motion was adopted by the House.
#JointSession @DrTariqFazal
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 15, 2026
He said the government was prepared to respond to questions raised by members of the opposition, while emphasising the constitutional basis for the measures.
Tarar said the KP government, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had repeatedly been advised to take effective steps against terrorism. He also criticised PTI leaders for their failure to attend the funerals of people killed in terrorist attacks.
Explaining the constitutional provisions, the law minister said Article 232 governed the proclamation of an emergency, while Article 234 provided for governor’s rule when a provincial government could not be carried on in accordance with the Constitution.
مجلسِ شوریٰ (پارلیمنٹ) کے مشترکہ اجلاس میں وفاقی وزیر برائے قانون و انصاف سینیٹر اعظم نذیر تارڑ کا اظہارِ خیال۔
#JointSession https://t.co/6oSL25d3yP
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 15, 2026
Under the constitutional framework, a proclamation of emergency issued by the President must be placed before both Houses of Parliament for approval within the prescribed period.
A proclamation under Article 234 must be laid before a joint sitting and ceases to remain in force after two months unless its continuation is approved, subject to the constitutional limit.
The government has maintained that the measures are necessary to address the security situation and ensure the administration of the province in accordance with the Constitution.
The federal government’s decision followed weeks of political tensions between the Centre and the PTI, including the party’s announcement of a long march towards Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.
READ ALSO: Pakistan’s Parliament Endorses Imposition of Emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
During the proceedings, the joint sitting also offered prayers for those who lost their lives, mostly children, in a roof collapse in Peshawar on Thursday.
The parliamentary approval provides the required legislative endorsement for the respective constitutional measures concerning emergency rule and the administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
