Fed govt mulling over playing its constitutional role in Karachi… and what does it mean?
KARACHI: Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem has hinted that the federal government could invoke Article 149 (4) of the Constitution in Sindh, particularly Karachi.
Talking to Geo News, Farogh Naseem said it was his personal thought and he would table the recommendation before the Karachi Strategic Committee established by the prime minister.
He said viewing the exacerbating situation of Karachi it was necessary that the centre interfere for betterment of the megalopolis.
Also Read: Why Rs300 bn generated by Karachi not spent on it, asks Waseem Akhter
The law minister clarified that the Article 149 (4) of the constitution neither talked about the governor rule nor any emergency rather it was an independent Article which empowered the federal government to give directions to any provincial government if there was a mismanagement in the matters of peace, tranquility and economy.
“You have witnessed the situation of Karachi in last 11 years that it has produced nothing but piles of garbage and filth, water scarcity and flies,” he said.
To a query, he said when the 18th Amendment was made the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N would have struck Article 149 out of the constitution if it was against the provincial autonomy.
“Tough measures should be taken if issues are to be sort out. We intend to impose Article 149 in Karachi and it is time that we implement it,” he said.
Article 149 (4) states, “The executive authority of the Federation shall also extend to the giving of directions to a Province as to the manner in which the executive authority thereof is to be exercised for the purpose of preventing any grave menace to the peace or tranquility or economic life of Pakistan or any part thereof.”
On Sept 5, Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda had said the people of Karachi were getting affected because of the fighting between different political parties.
“Billions of rupees funds has been released to the provincial and local bodies governments but zero work was done,” Faisal Vawda had said while addressing a press conference in Karachi’s Baldia Town.
