K-P opposition mulls governor rule option

Leaders term Imran's date for dissolution of assembly a 'red herring'

PESHAWAR:

As PTI chief Imran Khan finally revealed his plan to dissolve provincial assemblies on Dec 23 to trigger a spate of polls, the opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa whirred into action to preempt the dissolution of the elected house through hardball tactics, including imposing governor’s rule.

After consultations, opposition parties in the province – ANP, JUI-F and PML-N – have suggested to the central leadership to impose the governor's rule instead of bringing a no-confidence motion against the K-P CM Mahmood Khan.

However, it appeared to be also biding its time as it smelled a rat in Imran's decision to disclose the date to scuttle the assemblies almost a week earlier.

On the other hand, the ruling party in the province has rolled up its sleeves to pull off the provincial power play and has asserted that there was no justification for imposing the governor’s rule on the province.

It said that the provincial chiefs of K-P and Punjab will hand over the signed summary authorising the dissolution to the governor on December 23 (Friday) as per the instructions of Imran Khan.

A 'red herring'

However, both political observers and the opposition leaders pointed out that announcing the date for dissolution almost a week before could potentially enable the ruling coalition in the Centre to move ahead with its manoeuvrings to forestall the move.

If a no-trust motion against the chief minister is once submitted, such a resolution would bar the chief minister from dissolving the legislature until the motion is voted upon.

“Imran Khan is notorious for taking U-turns and whenever the time for an implementation of a decision comes he runs away,” said PML-N MPA and spokesman Ikhtiar Wali said.

The lawmaker doubted Imran’s resolve to dissolve the assemblies, saying if the PTI chief was interested in the dissolution of assemblies he would have announced it on Saturday night in presence of K-P and Punjab chief ministers.

He added that the former prime minister “wilfully” allowed space for the opposition to file a confidence motion against the chief ministers to prevent assemblies dissolution and thereby extending his government’s tenure to October next year – when the general elections are scheduled to take place.

The PML-N leader claimed that Imran Khan lacked the political acumen and courage to dissolve the assemblies and knew that his party would economically and politically suffer if his decision was implemented.

“I wonder why the chief ministers did not sign the assembly’s dissolution papers in the presence of Imran on Saturday night. Now, will these assemblies would complete their tenure?”

He said that PTI members including CM KP claimed that they would lay down their life for Imran but are now reluctant even to sign a resignation paper for their leader.

He said the “looters of Toshakhana” wanted to create the “political drama to grab people’s attention till October”.

Ikhtiar Wali said that the “Imran project” has failed and would be closed forever in the 2023 general election.

Meanwhile, echoing PML-N lawmaker, ANP’s Wajid Ali Khan said that Imran was in habit of giving new dates for assemblies’ dissolution to put pressure on the government for an early election.