A committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has been formed to oversee governance and security matters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in the province.
According to a source close to the prime minister, the committee was established informally, and no official notification regarding its formation has been issued. The body will monitor the province’s governance and security situation on a daily basis and submit reports to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The committee will also maintain close coordination with the new administrative setup in KP and assist it in carrying out the responsibilities of the provincial Advisory Council, particularly on security-related matters.
The committee includes Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah.
Representatives from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) are also part of the committee, with one member from each party.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed an 11-member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advisory Council to assist Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in managing the province’s affairs following the imposition of governor’s rule.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned sessions of the Senate and the National Assembly for Tuesday at 6pm.
The sessions are expected to consider the proclamation of emergency and the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for parliamentary endorsement in accordance with constitutional requirements.
Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel said the emergency and governor’s rule could remain in place for more than six months, depending on the prevailing security situation in the province.
He added that the duration of the emergency would be determined by developments in the security situation in KP.
