PML-N calls meeting to discuss available options

Move comes after PTI chief vows to quit Punjab, K-P assemblies

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz – earlier seen challenging the PTI to give resignations and dissolve assemblies in its Punjab and K-P strongholds to seek fresh elections – has now backpedalled from its stance, saying that they will not concede to the latter’s demand of snap polls at any cost as they too have multiple options with them to safeguard their central government from the aftershocks of possible en masse resignations.

PTI chief Imran Khan’s announcement of quitting the system took many by surprise.

The fact that Imran made this announcement, that still was open to interpretation, to conclude a protracted intermittent march, which was scheduled to commence on November 26 after a brief hiatus, only added to the surprise factor.

The PTI chief had foretold that he will give a surprise on July 26 in Rawalpindi, meaning that this plan was not a last minute change of hearts.

The first reaction to land in the media was of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, who said that they will move for a vote of no confidence in both Punjab and K-P to intercept the PTI from dissolving both assemblies, appraising that when a vote of no confidence is tabled, the house cannot be dissolved. However, this is not the only option the PML-N leaders claim to have with them.

According to Special Assistant to Prime Minister Ata Tarar, a meeting of the Punjab parliamentary committee has been called on Monday in Lahore, in which their legal team will also participate.

The meeting, he said, would be presided over by former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz. He said that during the meeting, available options would be discussed. He said that they have multiple options with them.

The most workable option, he said, was that instead of going towards a vote of no confidence, they can via the Punjab governor, ask the chief minister to take a vote of confidence. He said with the PTI announcing the decision to quit, the Punjab governor has a reason to believe that the Punjab CM has lost confidence of the majority of the house, legally empowering him to ask the CM to take a vote of no confidence.

Asked about any contacts with the PTI MPAs, he said that they don’t need to bank on any forward block. If the PTI is planning to resign, then with what moral capacity they will vote for the CM. They are confident, he said, that Pervaiz Elahi would not be able to secure the 186 votes needed to survive the confidence vote.
Asked about K-P, he said he did not have any information regarding K-P, adding that as of now, they have not yet finalised any plan.

On the other hand, Federal Minister Javed Latif presented a third option, claiming that they will bring governor’s rule in both provinces.

Asked about the legal issues, especially regarding the approval needed from President Arif Alvi, he said that they have a way around it – without elaborating any further.

Regarding K-P, he said that 51 per cent of the PTI MPAs have formed a forward block, the announcement of which would be made soon.

He said that with this many MPAs renegading from the party, the legal authority of the provincial command would lose its legitimacy.

Article 234 of the Constitution holds the president integral for this move, and without his consent this move seems highly unlikely to be even considered.

However, he conceded that the option to bring a vote of no confidence was there.