PESHAWAR: The chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tuesday night signed a summary advising the governor to dissolve the provincial legislature, stepping closer to the objective of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to pave the way for general elections.
Mahmood Khan’s move followed the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly by its chief minister, Pervaiz Elahi.
The PTI chairman had announced the dissolution of the two assemblies in November last. However, the plans were delayed due to consultations with allies and counter-measures adopted by the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance at the Centre.
The KP government spokesperson, Muhammad Ali Saif, confirmed the development, saying the summary for the dissolution of the assembly has been forwarded to the governor.
“Even if the governor does not approve the summary, the assembly will automatically stand dissolved after 48 hours,” he added.
وزیراعلی خیبرپختونخواہ نے کے پی اسمبلی کو تحلیل کرنے کی سمری دستخط کر کے گورنر کو بھجوا دی. pic.twitter.com/hbdhDuctsF
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 17, 2023
The Governor House confirmed receiving the advice to dissolve the assembly. The advice to dissolve the assembly has been received, Ghulam Ali, the governor, told the media, adding he would decide on the matter according to the law and Constitution.
Hours before the dissolution, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf hurriedly accepted the resignations of 35 MPs: 34 from PTI and Awami Muslim League (AML) president Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed.
Asad Qaiser, Qasim Suri, Pervez Khattak, Ali Amin Gandapur, Murad Saeed, Shehryar Khan Afridi, and Imran Khattak are among the lawmakers whose resignations have been accepted.
The move to dissolve the legislature was made after an online meeting between party chairman Imran Khan, the provincial cabinet, and former KP governor Shah Farman at the Chief Minister’s House.
In a statement, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan thanked the government and opposition lawmakers, as well as members of the civil service, for their service over the past four years.
He also expressed confidence that his party will establish a government with a two-thirds majority in the upcoming general elections, which must be held by October.
Furthermore, the chief minister stated there was instability in the country due to “imported” rulers, a reference to the government of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) at the Centre, and that getting rid of the corrupt gang had become inevitable. He also thanked the public of KP for posing their trust in him.
Cabinet taken on board about dissolution
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Tuesday informed the provincial cabinet that a summary to dissolve provincial assembly would immediately be moved to the Governor and also expressed gratitude to cabinet members, MPAs and bureaucracy for their support to his government.
Presiding over the 86th cabinet meeting here at the CM house, Mahmood Khan said that the four-year in power spent very good and he was grateful to people of KP for endorsing trust in him, adding that dissolution of assembly would not be delayed any further and the summary would be moved to the Governor immediately in vital nation interest.
He hoped that PTI would come to power again with two third majority after winning the next general elections.
On the other hand, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif attending an important party meeting via video link from London had directed its leaders and workers to start preparing for elections in Punjab and pledged that the central government would not be “blackmailed” by the PTI chief’s demand to hold snap elections in the country.
The former prime minister has been demanding general elections since he was ousted in April after losing a contentious parliamentary vote of confidence marred by allegations of military involvement. He has also led nationwide protests against his successor, Shehbaz Sharif.
Shehbaz has repeatedly rejected Khan’s demands, saying elections will be held as scheduled later this year.
According to a party insider, the elder Sharif, too, has been categorical about the former prime minister’s demand. “Nawaz had said come what may, we will not be blackmailed by Khan’s demand. The general elections will be held on time,” he said.
