ISLAMABAD: According to The Express Tribune, a joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday adopted two separate resolutions ratifying the presidential proclamations imposing a state of emergency and governor's rule for two months in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The first resolution approved President Asif Ali Zardari's emergency proclamation under Article 232(1), in accordance with Article 232(7). The second approved the governor's rule proclamation under Article 234(1), in accordance with Article 234(3). Both were moved by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq chaired the session. Opposition members wore black armbands and tore up copies of the resolution. A procedural motion under Rule 232 of the Joint Sitting Rules was put to a standing vote and adopted 214 to 56, after which the two ratification resolutions were passed.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the emergency as a "last resort", saying the federal cabinet debated the matter for about two and a half hours before recommending that the prime minister advise the president. He said the KP governor had written to the president and prime minister warning that the conflict involving terrorism was intensifying.
The Express Tribune noted that Parliament can endorse emergency and governor's rule for two months at a time, with a constitutional maximum of six months. A day earlier, the National Assembly and Senate had separately approved the emergency proclamation. The Centre imposed emergency and governor's rule on October 11. The joint sitting was adjourned indefinitely.