Assembly dissolution: PTI MPAs to be asked to resign to avert resistance
Central leadership reportedly tasked K-P office-bearers with obtaining the resignations.
PESHAWAR:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) central leadership has tasked provincial office-bearers with obtaining resignations from the party’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) MPAs in a bid to minimise resistance in case the assembly is dissolved, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Since the party’s central leadership has decided to dissolve the K-P assembly if their demands are not met by the federal government, the resignations are likely to be used as an alternative leverage if any PTI legislator decides to go against the party’s decision.
A PTI insider told The Express Tribune, “The central leadership can ask Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to dissolve the provincial legislature any time and these resignations reduce the threat of confrontation from party MPAs.”
He added the legislators can move court against the possible dissolution of the provincial assembly and because of this the party will attempt to obtain their resignations first.
He added the central leadership has tasked the provincial leadership with mentally preparing the lawmakers and then getting a hold of their resignations.
According to the PTI insider, the central leadership has also called a meeting of MNAs and MPAs in Islamabad on Wednesday (today), and the likely topic of discussion might be getting the MPAs to quit.
However, PTI MPA Nadia Sher Ali said no MPA had been asked to step down.
Calling the reports “propaganda”, Ali said the information was not based on facts. She maintained, however, the party will not hesitate to go to any extent if their genuine demands are not met by the government.
Provincial spokesperson Ayesha Gulalai also denied these reports and said they were “mere speculation with no factual evidence on ground.”
“Yes we have a meeting but I’m not aware of the agenda,” Gulalai said. PTI K-P President Azam Swati was not available for comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2014.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) central leadership has tasked provincial office-bearers with obtaining resignations from the party’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) MPAs in a bid to minimise resistance in case the assembly is dissolved, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Since the party’s central leadership has decided to dissolve the K-P assembly if their demands are not met by the federal government, the resignations are likely to be used as an alternative leverage if any PTI legislator decides to go against the party’s decision.
A PTI insider told The Express Tribune, “The central leadership can ask Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to dissolve the provincial legislature any time and these resignations reduce the threat of confrontation from party MPAs.”
He added the legislators can move court against the possible dissolution of the provincial assembly and because of this the party will attempt to obtain their resignations first.
He added the central leadership has tasked the provincial leadership with mentally preparing the lawmakers and then getting a hold of their resignations.
According to the PTI insider, the central leadership has also called a meeting of MNAs and MPAs in Islamabad on Wednesday (today), and the likely topic of discussion might be getting the MPAs to quit.
However, PTI MPA Nadia Sher Ali said no MPA had been asked to step down.
Calling the reports “propaganda”, Ali said the information was not based on facts. She maintained, however, the party will not hesitate to go to any extent if their genuine demands are not met by the government.
Provincial spokesperson Ayesha Gulalai also denied these reports and said they were “mere speculation with no factual evidence on ground.”
“Yes we have a meeting but I’m not aware of the agenda,” Gulalai said. PTI K-P President Azam Swati was not available for comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2014.