LAHORE: After a gap of about four years and two months, a fiery debate over the imposition of Governor’s rule has again gained momentum in Pakistan, and this time around, the province under the spotlight is Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, though intermittent discussions on the subject have always been held whenever Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf regimes threatened to lead long marches from Peshawar to Islamabad.
However, in more recent times, this Constitutional option was most seriously considered on July 27, 2022 when the-then Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah, announced that the Federal government was considering to clamp down Governor’s Rule in Punjab.
Just a day earlier, on July 26, 2022, the Supreme Court had removed PML-N’s Chief Minister, Hamza Shahbaz, from office and Opposition’s candidate, Pervez Ellahi, had gone on to succeed him.
Since 1947, each Pakistani province has experienced Governor’s Rule under Article 234 of the Constitution.
As far as instances regarding imposition of Governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (formerly NWFP) are concerned, the province has witnessed three such spells since 1975, when Governor, Major General (retired) Syed Ghawas, was made to call shots for 76 days.
This political turbulence was recorded during Premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s tenure.
On May 3, 1975, the federal government lifted the measure and Nasrullah Khattak was sworn in as Chief Minister.
The second Governor’s Rule was witnessed in 1994 under Major General (retired) Khurshid Khan.
And the third arrived after the 1999 coup, when Lt. General (retired) Muhammad Shafiq and later Lt. General (retired) Iftikhar Hussain Shah looked after the affairs.
Governor’s Rule was first imposed in Punjab on January 25, 1949, and remained enforced till April 5, 1951.
Chief Minister Iftikhar Mamdot was shown the door and assemblies dissolved.
Media archives reveal that when Premier Liaquat Ali Khan came to Lahore in January 1949, Chief Minister Mamdot informed him that he enjoyed a majority in the assembly.
Ironically, as the Premier found out, the facts did not match Mamdot’s claims.
The Chief Minister was hence sent packing by the-then Governor General on advice of the Prime Minister. Sir Francis Mudie was the Governor at that time.
Mudie, and later Abdul Rab Nishtar, controlled the province till November 1951.
In March 1951, Punjab Assembly polls were held and Mumtaz Daultana was elected as Chief Minister.
The second Governor’s Rule in Punjab was proclaimed on October 12, 1999, when General Musharraf ousted Premier Nawaz Sharif and took charge.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s tenure was hence cut short. This Governor’s rule was lifted on November 23, 2002.
Between October 12, 1999 and November 23, 2002, three Governors - Messrs Zulfiqar Khosa, Lt General Safdar and Lt General Khalid Maqbool - oversaw the proceedings.
The third Governor’s Rule came on February 25, 2009, when President Asif Zardari’s order made late Salman Taseer head the province. The advice was given by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
This happened after Supreme Court had disqualified both Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.
This Governor’s Rule lasted two months till March 2009, when Zardari signed a document, paving way for PML-N to return to power.
Interestingly, President Zardari did not suspend the provincial assembly and only Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, and his cabinet were barred from holding offices.
In Sindh, there were three direct instances of Governor’s Rule under Mian Aminuddin (1951-53), Lt. General Rahimud Din Khan (1988) and Lt. General Moinud Din Haider (1998).
The provincial Chief Ministers of those times were removed and assemblies dissolved.
Governor Mian Aminuddin took charge from 1951 to 1953, following the dismissal of Chief Minister, Ayub Khuhro, and the dissolution of the assembly. The second came in 1988 under Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Rahimuddin Khan, when severe ethnic violence in Karachi and Hyderabad had compelled dismissal of the government.
In 1998, the differences between the MQM and the PML-N regime had come out in the open, following the murder of renowned philanthropist and an ex- Governor, Hakim Said.
Premier Nawaz Sharif’s severe accusations against MQM severed his alliance with Altaf Hussain’s party.
It goes without saying the MQM and PML-N were already nourishing grudges over the Shariat bill, Army operations against MQM and poor governance in Sindh. Anyhow, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Moinuddin Haider assumed control.
In Balochistan, Governor’s Rule was enacted from February 13, 1973 to April 27, 1973, from December 31, 1975 to December 6, 1976, from October 12, 1999 to December 1, 2002 and from January 14, 2013 to March 14, 2013.
First Governor’s Rule in 1973 under Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo came into effect after dismissal of Ataullah Mengal’s government.
It returned in 1975 under Ahmed Yar Baloch, and again in 1977 under the same governor.
From 1999 to 2002, Syed Fazal Agha administered the province following Musharraf’s coup.
The last such intervention was seen under Zulfiqar Magsi in 2013, after escalating sectarian violence. Premier Pervaiz Ashraf and President Zardari were left with no option but to dismiss Chief Minister, Aslam Raisani.
The 60-day emergency rule concluded in March 2013, leading to a caretaker set up and general elections.
It is imperative to note that Governor’s Rule in East Pakistan was first imposed on May 30, 1954, by Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad, who had shown pink slip to Chief Minister A.K. Fazle Haq, whose government lasted just 56 days.
Governor Iskander Mirza controlled the proceedings.
East Pakistan later saw subsequent Interventions between 1958 and 1971 whenever political instability threatened federal control.
In 1971, East Pakistan was ruled under Martial Law by governors like Lt. General Tikka Khan.
However, a civilian governor, Dr. A. M. Malik, was appointed in September 1971.
