ISLAMABAD – What is Article 149 of Pakistani constitution and How it can beimplemented in Karachi? A debate has started in after the announcement ofLaw Minister Dr. Farogh Naseem.
He has hinted at imposing Article 49 of the Constitution of Pakistan totake Karachi under federal control. He made these remarks on Wednesday,creating a wave of relief for the people of the problems-ridden metropolis.
Dr. Naseem said that the people of Karachi have witnessed the situation oftheir city and have seen it turning into a vast garbage dump.
There is nothing there except garbage, shortage of water, and flies.
The minister was speaking at a local TV channel last night when he saidthat the time was right to impose Article 149(4) to make Karachi anadministrative unit under the federation.
He said that he was going to table it before the Karachi StrategicCommittee very soon.
This is my personal opinion. And, I will table it before the KarachiStrategic Committee formed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
If the committee agrees with my analysis, the proposal will be presented tothe premier and the cabinet. Then, it is at their disposal to invoke thearticle in Karachi or not.
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What is Article 149?
Under this constitutional provision, the federal government’s authority canbe extended to any subjected province to deal with any grave threat to thepeace or tranquility or economic life of the country.
Here is how Farogh Naseem explained this article:
It is an independent article of the constitution. This allows the federalgovernment to exercise an executive authority under which it can issuedirectives to any provincial government if there are issues about peace,tranquility, and economic life.
This will allow the federal government to take control of the provincialcapital’s administration and any projects currently underway or on hold,allowing them to directly manage the city’s operations.
