PTI defers Punjab Assembly dissolution until LHC decision

Imran says CM’s vote of confidence subject to verdict on Jan 11

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided not to dissolve the Punjab Assembly till the outcome of the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision in Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi’s de-notification case.

On December 23, the LHC restored CM Elahi after Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman de-notified him for failing to take a vote of confidence in the Punjab Assembly.

However, after hearing the arguments of the Punjab government and others, the LHC suspended the notification following Elahi’s undertaking that he would not dissolve the assembly before the next hearing.

During a meeting with the senior party leaders in Lahore on Saturday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the Punjab CM’s vote of confidence was subjected to the court’s decision on Jan 11, asking them to be prepared for it in case the court says to take it.

He assured them that they would not face any problem if they had to take the vote of confidence at any time.

The former prime minister informed the provincial ministers on the future strategy of Punjab and the current political situation, including the vote of confidence, dissolution of the provincial assembly and preparation for the next general elections.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan, Deputy Speaker Wasiq Abbasi, former Punjab CM Usman Buzdar, and provincial ministers, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Raja Basharat and Mohsin Leghari, attended the meeting.

The PTI chief said that there were no two opinions on the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. “It will take place soon after the vote of confidence is taken. In this connection, the decision will be taken in a party meeting.”

He said that soon after the dissolution of the assembly, they would go to the people for election, asking the ministers to remain in contact with the provincial legislators.

Moreover, the party leaders were given the responsibility to prepare for the elections in their respective constituencies and divisions. Imran averred that he would not allow the “imported rulers” to run away from the elections, claiming that after Islamabad, the “conspirators” were trying to run away from the local government elections in Karachi.

“They are well aware of the reality that the people have completely rejected them,” he added, reiterating that only fresh elections were a solution to the country's ongoing problems.

“Only a government with a public mandate can overcome the current crisis.”

Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Musarrat Jamshed Cheema said in a statement that the children of “corrupt gangs” were getting acquitted from the courts.

“The decision of our country's destiny should be made by the power of public mandate instead of the corrupt mafia. We will not let the mission of our enemy countries regarding impeding the progress of Pakistan to succeed at any cost,” she added.

Critical of the judgement to restore the assets of Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, she said that “thieves” were being acquitted from all charges of corruption by giving them NRO-2.

Also read: PTI tells ‘reluctant’ CM it’s ready to quit Punjab govt

She said the corruption money retrieved was being handed back to the “dacoits who wreaked havoc on the national economy”.

“It seems that the imported government will nominate Dar for the presidential award for being a champion of corruption,” she added.

Misunderstandings with MWM cleared

PTI chief Imran Khan on Saturday announced that all misunderstandings with the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) had been cleared, saying that the party “reiterated their commitment” to the PTI’s “struggle for Haqeeqi Azadi [real freedom]”.

The former premier took to Twitter to state that he held a meeting with MWM Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and his delegation on Friday.

Imran added that he assured the MWM members of resolving any issues the party had in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

The meeting between the two party leaders comes as the MWM announced earlier this week that it would not give a vote of confidence to Punjab CM Elahi.

In a statement released by the party, the MWM Political Council said that it took the decision after consultation with its leadership.

According to the party spokesperson, the MWM expressed "serious concerns over some of Elahi's actions", saying that its Punjab Assembly member Syeda Zahra Naqvi would not give him a vote of confidence.

In a bid to stop the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly on Dec 23, 2022, as announced by Imran, Governor Rehman asked Elahi to take a vote of confidence two days ahead of the deadline.

However, Speaker Sibtain Khan intervened, saying that it could not happen as the Punjab Assembly was in session and calling a new one would be unconstitutional.

Subsequently, the governor de-notified Elahi on Dec 22, 2022. However, the LHC reinstated the Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader on the assurance that he would not dissolve the assembly before Jan 11, 2023 – the next date of hearing.

A day after the LHC reinstated Elahi, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the party would ask Elahi to take a vote of confidence as soon as possible.

Earlier, the MWM announced unconditional support for the former ruling party for the local government elections in Islamabad. It hoped that residents of the federal capital would vote for the PTI to defeat the ruling coalition. (With input from news desk)