Like many other countries in world, the federal government in Pakistan is legally empowered to issue proclamation of emergency or governor’s rule’ in different situations, like if the country faces a threat of war or external aggression, financial emergency, or internal disturbances beyond the control of a provincial government. However, the authority to impose governor’s rule in a province on the advice of federal government has not only been drastically restricted and curtailed through the 18th Amendment but simultaneously the Parliament and the relevant provincial assembly have also been given vast powers to constrain such imposition.
Article 232, 233, 234, 235, 236 and 237 of the Constitution of Pakistan precisely deal with the situation and state the process of issuance of proclamation of emergency and its legal consequences. As per Article 232 of Constitution, if the president is satisfied that a grave emergency exists in which the security of Pakistan, or any part thereof, is threatened by war or external aggression, or by internal disturbance beyond the power of a provincial government to control, he can issue a proclamation of emergency. However, for imposition of emergency due to internal disturbances beyond the powers of a provincial government to control, a resolution from the assembly of that province shall be required and mandatory before such action of the president. And if the president acts on his own without any reference from the provincial government, such proclamation of emergency shall be placed before both houses of parliament for the approval by each house within ten days.
Article 234 of Constitution deals with the power to issue proclamation in case of failure of constitutional machinery in a province, and if the president, on receipt of a report from the governor of a province is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the province cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the President may, or if a resolution in this behalf is passed by each House separately shall, by Proclamation, assume to himself, or direct the Governor of the province to assume on behalf of the president, all or any of the functions of the government of the province, and all or any of the powers vested in, or exercisable by, anybody or authority in the Province, other than the provincial assembly.
Authority to impose governor’s rule in a province on the advice of federal government has not only been drastically curtailed through the 18th Amendment but the Parliament and the relevant provincial assembly have also been given vast powers to constrain such imposition.
The proclamation issued under Article 234 of Constitution shall be laid before a joint sitting, and the proclamation shall cease to be in force at the expiration of two months, unless before the expiration of that period it would be approved by resolution of the joint sitting and the resolution could be extended for a further period not exceeding two months at a time; but no such Proclamation of emergency shall in any case remain in force for more than six months.
Article 235 of Constitution deals with proclamation in case of financial emergency, and states that if the president is satisfied that a situation has arisen whereby the economic life, financial stability or credit of Pakistan, or any part thereof, is threatened, he may, after consultation with the governors of the provinces or, as the case may be, the governor of the province concerned, by proclamation would make a declaration to that effect, and, while such a proclamation is in force, the executive authority of the federation shall extend to the giving of directions to any province to observe such principles of financial propriety as may be specified in the directions, and to the giving of such other directions as the president may deem necessary in the interest of the economic life, financial stability or credit of Pakistan or any part thereof.
Article 236 of the Constitution states that a proclamation issued under this Part can be varied or revoked by a subsequent proclamation, and the validity of any proclamation issued or order made shall not be called in question in any court. Article 237 also prescribes that nothing in the constitution shall prevent Parliament from making any law indemnifying any person in the service of the federal government or a provincial government, or any other person, in respect of any act done in connection with the maintenance or restoration of order in any area in Pakistan.
While a Proclamation of emergency is in force, the Parliament shall have power to make laws for a Province, or any part thereof, with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Federal Legislative List. While a proclamation is in force, the Federal government during this time can suspend the enforcement of fundamental rights and can issue orders to the Provincial governments and can also suspend the operation of constitutional provisions with regards to provincial bodies and matters and such orders must be approved by the Parliament. The Parliament can also legislate on provincial matters while the emergency is in force and may extend its life for up to a year. It is also important that when a Proclamation of emergency is in force, the Parliament can by law extend the term of the National Assembly for a period not exceeding one year, and not extending in any situation beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation of emergency has ceased to be in force.
It has been clearly mentioned in the constitution that the federal government neither held the constitution in abeyance nor suspend the provisions of the constitutional provisions related to the superior judiciary. It is pertinent to mention that in all situations relating to the Proclamation of emergency, the superior courts would have the power of judicial review and to decide the validity of Proclamation of emergency, and their decision or final declaration regarding validity of imposition would be binding to all concerned under Article 189 of the Constitution.
The writer is a practicing lawyer at Supreme Court and has served as Chairman, Federal Excise & Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal and Senior Advisor Federal Ombudsman. He can be reached at: hafizahsaan47@gmail.com.