The opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) has demanded a transparent judicial review of the constitutional grounds for imposing emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning that the measures undermine provincial autonomy, the public mandate and parliamentary democracy.

The demand came in a joint declaration issued on Monday by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas, and senior PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser.

High court petitions struck off

The call follows the Peshawar High Court's decision on 7 November to remove from its cause list all writ petitions challenging the emergency, governor's rule and detentions under the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance. The court acted after the Federal Constitutional Court stripped it of jurisdiction over cases filed on or after 12 October.

Among the petitions removed were those seeking the recovery of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Provincial Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati and PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar.

Emergency imposed on 11 October

President Asif Ali Zardari approved the emergency and governor's rule on 11 October under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, citing a deteriorating security situation and what the federal government described as the provincial administration's failure to cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts. Chief Minister Afridi and his cabinet were removed from office, executive powers passed to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, and emergency measures were imposed in 12 districts.

The alliance has formed a committee to organise an All Parties Conference and pledged countrywide protests. Its declaration also called for the medical examination reports of the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi to be made public. Read the full account in the report on the TTAP declaration and the companion report on the judicial review demand.