Pakistan’s federal government has imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, following approval by President Asif Ali Zardari of a recommendation from the federal cabinet on Sunday.The measures were taken under Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution.An emergency cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed the security situation in the province. Cabinet members reportedly expressed concern over what they described as the provincial government’s “deliberate inaction” in the fight against terrorism.Considering the gravity of the situation, the cabinet decided to recommend that the president declare an emergency.Article 232 of Pakistan’s Constitution provides for the imposition of an emergency in circumstances involving war, external aggression or internal disturbances beyond the government’s control. Article 234 allows governor’s rule to be imposed when the constitutional machinery of a province breaks down.Such a proclamation must be approved by a joint sitting of parliament within two months and may remain in force for up to six months, subject to constitutional requirements.Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Gohar Ali Khan strongly condemned the decision, describing the imposition of emergency rule as an “undemocratic move”.He said peace could not be achieved by weakening provincial autonomy and urged the federal government to withdraw the decision and respect the people’s demands.The allegations of deliberate inaction by the provincial government have not been independently established in the information available. They should therefore be treated as allegations unless verified through an independent investigation. Source: Dawn