ISLAMABAD(National Times)- After imposing an emergency in the province, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed an 11-member committee headed by his deputy Ishaq Dar to oversee the affairs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A source close to the premier told Dawn that the committee was formed informally and that no official notification had been issued about its formation, but the body would monitor governance and security issues in KP daily and report to the PM. The body will maintain close liaison with the new setup in KP and provide assistance in the discharge of its (KP Advisory Council) duties and security-related matters.
According to the source, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, and one member each from the PPP, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) are part of the committee led by Mr Dar.
Earlier, the PM formed an 11-member KP Advisory Board or a ‘cabinet’ of Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to run the affairs of the province.
Parliament meets today
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari summoned sessions of the Senate and the National Assembly today (Tuesday) at 6pm. The sessions were called apparently to get the proclamation of emergency and governor’s rule in KP endorsed to meet a constitutional requirement.
Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel said the period of emergency and governor’s rule could be more than six months. In a statement, he said the length of the emergency will depend on the security situation in KP.
