Federal govt moves to expand KP governor’s emergency powers

The federal government has decided to grant additional powers to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in view of the law and order situation in the province.

According to government sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has forwarded a draft ordinance concerning the governor’s powers during the existing emergency rule to President Asif Ali Zardari.

President Zardari is expected to promulgate the ordinance soon on the prime minister’s advice.

Under the proposed ordinance, the KP governor would be granted extensive powers during an emergency.

His authority would also be expanded in matters relating to the province’s 12 merged districts.

The sources said the proposed ordinance was also the reason behind the rescheduling of the National Assembly session.

According to the sources, once a session of the National Assembly is summoned, the ordinance cannot be promulgated.