Federal cabinet to approve emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tomorrow: Sources

The federal government has decided to impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Sources say the federal cabinet is likely to approve the emergency tomorrow. Sessions of both houses of Parliament have also been summoned to endorse the move.

Sources said a federal cabinet meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., during which it is expected to seek approval to impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari at the President's House, where they discussed the country's overall political and security situation.

Article 232 deals with the proclamation of an emergency in cases of war, external aggression or such internal disturbance as is beyond the power of a provincial government to control.

Under the Constitution, if the President is satisfied that the security of Pakistan, or any part of the country, is threatened by war, external aggression or internal disturbance beyond the power of a provincial government to control, an emergency proclamation may be issued.

Under the current constitutional framework, an emergency in a province on the ground of internal disturbance also involves a requirement relating to a resolution of the concerned provincial assembly.

Where the President acts on his own initiative, the proclamation is required to be laid before both Houses of Parliament for approval.