Presidential order: Governor’s rule formally imposed in Balochistan

Zardari summons meeting on Balochistan; may visit province.

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari officially sacked the Raisani-led Balochistan government on Monday and formally authorised Governor Zulfiqar Ahmed Magsi to assume powers to run the province.

The presidential order, issued on Monday, barred former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani and provincial ministers from holding office and stated that the government could no longer work constitutionally.

Furthermore, the order stated that governor’s rule had been imposed for two months according to Section 3 of Article 234 of the Constitution.

Under governor’s rule, the powers of the provincial government will now be transferred to the National Assembly in the absence of a provincial legislature for necessary legislation. Magsi, heading a small cabinet, will govern the province under emergency rule till fresh elections are held.

According to constitutional experts, the governor’s rule would be considered fully legitimate once a joint sitting of parliament approves it and the notification will become automatically null and void after 60 days. However, they added, another joint sitting can approve the decree for another 60 days but the rule cannot go beyond 180 days.

The summary of the presidential order was prepared by the cabinet division and sent to the president in Karachi through fax. The president signed it for the promulgation after having a telephonic conversation with the prime minister.

The declaration follows Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s decision to invoke section 3 of Article 234 of the Constitution and declare a state of emergency in the province, following a protest by Quetta’s Shia Hazara Community over a massive bomb blast that left over 100 people dead.

Meanwhile, President Zardari has convened a meeting on the situation in Balochistan at Bilawal House today (Tuesday), during which he will be briefed by Governor Magsi. Talking to The Express Tribune, PPP senator Sabir Baloch said that governor will submit his initial report to the president regarding the Quetta bombings.

Sources in the party said President Zardari has decided to visit Balochistan as well and a schedule for his visit would be announced within a few days.

With additional reporting by Hafeez Tunio in Karachi

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2013.