Constitutional procedure adopted for emergency, governor's rule in KP: Tarar

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar told the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday that the constitutional procedure had been followed and all legal requirements for imposing an emergency or governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been fulfilled. Speaking in the House, he said the provincial governor had fulfilled his constitutional responsibility and that all legal requirements had been met. The minister said that the contents of the governor's letter had already been made public and discussed in the media. He said that the governor had also held a press conference and delivered a speech, stating that he had fulfilled his constitutional duty. Tarar said that the use of Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution was not unprecedented, as similar provisions had been invoked in the past. He said the Constitution laid down a specific procedure for presenting a proclamation before the relevant forum and securing its approval. Referring to the constitutional provisions and amendments introduced in 2010, the law minister said lawmakers had deliberately used specific wording to define the legal requirements and responsibilities. He said that the Constitution required a proclamation to be presented for approval. The relevant provisions, he added, should be interpreted according to their exact wording rather than as a general requirement to discuss every related document. Responding to points raised during the debate, Tarar referred to previous constitutional cases, including those heard by the Supreme Court. He said that the courts had examined similar questions in the past and that constitutional issues should be addressed after carefully reviewing the relevant provisions and judicial record. The minister urged lawmakers to exercise caution when discussing legal matters and avoid unnecessary statements that could have legal consequences.