State Minister for Law Aqeel Malik highlights \u201cgovernance and security issues\u201d in province
\n islamabad
\nState Minister for Law Aqeel Malik on Sunday said that the federal government was \u201cseriously pondering\u201d over imposing a governor\u2019s rule in Khyber Pakhtnukhwa (KP), citing poor governance, terrorism and border situation with Afghanistan.
\n\u201cThe situation in KP is evident to everyone, given the cross-border terrorism and governance issues,\u201d he said while speaking on Geo News\u2019 programme \u201cNaya Pakistan\u201d.
\nMalik said the federal government was evaluating the move in light of security and safety concerns, as well as national security priorities.
\nCriticising the provincial leadership, he said that KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and his team \u201cbadly failed\u201d in ensuring effective governance and having a \u201cworkable situation\u201d with the federation.
\n\u201cThey do not maintain coordination or cohesion with the federation,\u201d he added.
\nThe state minister cautioned that the province appeared to be moving toward governor\u2019s rule, emphasising that such a measure was not unprecedented in Pakistan\u2019s history.
\nMalik said that the governor\u2019s rule is imposed only in \u201ccases of urgent necessity\u201d, adding that the current situation in KP \u201cwarranted such a step\u201d.
\n\u201cThe situation calls for a measure to ensure an administrative structure that can deliver benefits to its people,\u201d he added.
\nThe minister said that the federal government could not leave the people of the province helpless.
\nOn the procedure for imposing governor\u2019s rule, he said the president can take such a measure without waiting for advice from the provincial governor.
\nHe added that the Constitution allows the governor\u2019s rule for an initial period of two months, which can be extended further if needed.
\nMalik noted that the federal government was considering the move in the light of the security situation, especially at the western border with Afghanistan.
\nKP Information Secretary Shafiq Jan, however, warned of a strong reaction to such an attempt by the Centre in the province.
\nSpeaking exclusively to Geo News, he said that changing the governor was a discretionary authority of the federal government.
\n\u201cIf they want to impose governor\u2019s rule, they can do it today,\u201d he added.
\nJan dismissed allegations made by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who earlier in the day accused the KP government of protecting \u201cdrug cartels\u201d.
\n\u201cProve that any of our political leaders have colluded with terrorists,\u201d he asked the federal government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
State Minister for Law Aqeel Malik highlights \u201cgovernance and security issues\u201d in province islamabad State Minister for Law Aqeel Malik on Sunday said that the federal government was \u201cseriously pondering\u201d over imposing a governor\u2019s rule in Khyber Pakhtnukhwa (KP), citing poor governance, terrorism and border situation with Afghanistan. \u201cThe situation in KP is evident to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-517485","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n