Petitions Challenging Emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Fixed for Hearing; Peshawar High Court Sets October 20 Date
PESHAWAR : The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has decided to formally list petitions challenging the imposition of emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for regular hearings.
The high court bench has set October 20 for the legal challenges after petitioners rushed straight to the high court against the administrative takeover. The main opposition came from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who challenged the emergency measures and Governor’s Rule.
The court cases filed by the High Court and the legal approach taken are summarized below.
Prayer for nullification: Barrister Gohar made it’s case before the court in the formal petition submitted through legal counsel and asked the court to set aside the executive notifications, stating that the dismissal of the provincial government was in violation of constitutional safeguards.
Speaking on the phone to the media, Barrister Gohar said that if after taking all remedies or approaching the high court, the battle goes to the federal constitutional court, if needed, but the first step is to approach the high court at province level.
Other challenges:The Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ain-e-Pakistan has also, officially, filed a separate petition at the Peshawar High Court challenging the legality of the Governor’s Rule and emergency proclamation, in addition to the PTI’s legal action.
Background Context: The legal battles are related to the executive action of the government which took place five days ago, on the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the summary of emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.