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Will PTI carry out their threat of quitting all legislative assemblies in the country?

Will PTI carry out their threat of quitting all legislative assemblies in the country?

  • Yes, they will go ahead with this

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • No, it's an empty threat - nothing will happen

    Votes: 4 80.0%
  • Total voters
    5
MenInG

MenInG

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26th November is when Imran Khan made the speech in which he made clear this course of action but there is still a lot of debate about the merits and the practicality of this move.

Do you think PTI will carry out this threat?
 
PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that party chairman Imran Khan was determined to dissolve assemblies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab within the next few days.

“In a meeting with the party leadership today, Imran said that snap polls were the only way forward […] and for this, the dissolution of assemblies is very important,” the former minister told reporters in Lahore.

Last month, Imran announced that his party would disassociate itself from the “current corrupt political system” by quitting the assemblies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

However, in an interview with Bol News earlier this week, the PTI chief said that he may delay the dissolution of Punjab and KP assemblies if political players agreed to come to the table and decide that the general election would be called maximum by the end of next March.

Since March will be the month of Ramazan, Imran’s new suggestion implied that the coalition government should immediately announce the date of elections, and dissolve all assemblies.

While the former prime minister is determined to dissolve assemblies, Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi — who is in power in the province due to the support of PTI — has said that the provincial assembly will “continue the same way for the next four months till March”.

“My stance is the same … I will dissolve [the assembly] whenever he (Imran) tells me to,” Elahi stated in an interview with Hum News. “That decision has been taken. However, now you’d have to think of its pros and cons. For that, we will have to hold talks.”

In a media talk today, Qureshi said that Imran had been holding back-to-back meetings with PTI lawmakers in Punjab.

“After talking to them, he is convinced that the only way forward is dissolving assemblies and moving towards fresh elections,” he stated.

“The party believes that even if the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) keeps its own interests above the state’s interest […] and does not hold elections […] it is their wish.

“We want that before Ramazan, the election process should be completed and governments should be formed,” Qureshi said, adding that Imran was clear on his stance that there should be no delay in the dissolution of assemblies.

Stressing the need for fresh polls, he claimed that Pakistan’s economic situation was worsening day by day.

“The business community has lost trust [in the government]. Farmers are worried […] there is no investment coming in the country […] our growth rate is going down and same is the case with industrial productivity.”

Qureshi went on to say that the current situation “clearly hinted” at an economic decline.

PTI welcomes SC’s suo motu notice of Arshad Sharif’s murder
The PTI leader also said that the party has welcomed the Supreme Court’s suo motu notice of the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif — who was shot dead in Kenya earlier this year.

After the top court took up the case yesterday, the Islamabad police had sprung into action and registered a first information report [FIR] of the murder.

Talking to the media today, Qureshi said: “We appreciate that the Chief Justice of Pakistan has formed a five-member bench. A fact-finding report has also been presented [in the court] and its salient features are in front of you.

“The point of view of Sharif’s mother is also in front of you. We believe that justice should be served,” he stated.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry criticised the move to name the police as a complainant in the FIR. “We believe that the court and institutions have one job — to satisfy Sharif’s mother.”

‘Want to reduce differences with institutions’

Citing the custodial torture of party leaders Azam Swati and Shahbaz Gill, Qureshi said that Pakistan had recently seen violations of basic human rights.

“These are very serious matters on which our nation, civil society, judiciary, and all other stakeholders should think. If this continues, it will only harm the country.”

The PTI leader went on to say that his party supported democracy and always functioned constitutionally.

“We don’t want to harm any institution. If, in the past, there were some differences or misunderstandings […] we now want to build confidence to reduce these differences,” he added.

DAWN
 
LAHORE: As Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan reiterated his threat to dissolve the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, the delay in securing support for and implementing his plan seems to be working against him, as the situation on the ground is changing with each passing day.

The latest reinforcement of dissolving the two provincial houses was conveyed through the party’s Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Mr Qureshi claimed on Wednesday that Mr Khan has expressed his conviction that fresh general elections were the only solution to all the ills plaguing the country.

“Seriousness to the cause demands immediate dissolution of the Punjab and KP assemblies,” he quoted the party chief as saying.

Without mentioning the military establishment or the federal government, the former foreign minister said the PTI chief wanted to take confidence-building measures to bridge the “gulf created due to misunderstandings” during the past eight months.

The latest assertion, however, comes at a time when Punjab and KP chief ministers Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and Mahmood Khan’s previous stance of unconditional and unwavering support to Imran in going ahead with quitting the assemblies may just be gaining some flexibility.

Parvez Elahi has of late been saying that the Punjab Assembly would continue functioning till April– beyond Ramazan. KP’s Mahmood Khan has also shown some flexibility and said his assembly would be dissolved after the Punjab legislature.

While the PML-Q, the PTI’s ally in Punjab, is busy calculating how to milk its government and gain more ground in the province, the PTI is also apparently witnessing some fissures within the party as many MPAs do not back the Punjab Assembly’s dissolution.

Moreover, sources said such lawmakers could also stay absent from a prospective chief minister’s election in case Mr Elahi is convinced to join hands with the opposition PML-N, accepting its offer for PA speakership, as is being rumoured.

After the party’s senior leadership meeting at Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence on Wednesday, Mr Qureshi told the media that the party chief wanted the election process to be completed and a new public-mandated government in the saddle before Ramazan, which begins at the end of March.

“Imran Khan says there should be no further delay in the dissolution of provincial assemblies as he took all measures by sending messages(to political players) through various sources, including direct talks led by President Dr Arif Alvi,” Qureshi said and regretted that the efforts had remained futile.

He further said the party wanted to bridge the gulfs created during the past eight months to end the political and economic mayhem in the country.

“It is the [Pakistan Democratic Movement] government’s own choice if it wants to keep its personal interests supreme than the country’s, and let Pakistan further sink into a plethora of problems that the new government will be unable to recover from during its constitutional term in power,” he regretted and cited the alleged infighting within the government — specifically between former and incumbent finance ministers Miftah Ismail and Ishaq Dar.

Elahi’s efforts

On the other hand, Punjab CM Elahi has launched hectic efforts against the dissolution of Punjab Assembly and to woo PTI legislators with lucrative development funds in their respective constituencies.

The men in the Elahi camp are also raising the issue of former prime minister Imran Khan’s security, saying that he was safe in the folds of Punjab and KP where his party ruled, and quitting the houses here could withdraw any protection he enjoys here.

“Mr Khan has restricted his movement to Islamabad, Sindh and Balochistan fearing arrest in various cases lodged against him,” the source said, adding Mr Elahi did not want to compromise on Khan’s security.

“On the other hand, Mr Elahi is quietly attempting to woo PTI leaders and strengthening his roots in the Punjab politics through massive development works and creation of new districts as well as Gujrat division – his hometown,” a source in the PTI told Dawn, adding Mr Khan’s decision to delay the dissolution of assemblies since his announcement on Nov 26 appeared to be backfiring now.

Stating that party MNAs had resigned from the National Assembly, Mr Qureshi told the media they were already not a part of the lower house of parliament and the dissolution of Punjab and KP assemblies would create an environment for general elections in the country.

He also conveyed the party’s appreciation for the Supreme Court’s suo motu notice in journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing case and constitution of a five-member bench that also perused the fact-finding report.

“The mother of the slain journalist and the PTI demand justice in the case as it will help restore the basic true fabric of the country’s Constitution and law of the land,” the former minister insisted.

He also called for dispensation of justice to party leaders Senator Azam Swati, Shahbaz Gill as well as the Imran Khan who has not been allowed to get an FIR registered as per his wishes in the assassination attempt on him during the long march in Wazirabad.

The points discussed during the meeting were also explained by PTI leaders including Secretary General Asad Umar and senior leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Shireen Mazari.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2022
 
PML-N DECIDES TO CONTEST BY-POLLS ON PUNJAB ASSEMBLY SEATS

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday decided to contest by-polls in case of dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, announced Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

“PML-N has started preparations for by-polls in Punjab,” Rana Sanaulalh said while addressing a presser in Lahore, here today, adding that two candidates will be nominated in every constituency of the province.

He made it clear that the general elections will be held in the country in the month of October, next year. By-polls will be held within 90 days in case of the dissolution of provincial assemblies.

The minister challenged former prime minister Imran Khan to dissolve Punjab Assembly and end this ambiguity.

Commenting on the return of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan, Rana Sanaullah said preparations to welcome the former prime minister have begun, and the welcome of Nawaz Sharif will set the fate of elections.

ARY
 
‘Q’ urges prudence as Imran gives dissolution deadline

• Moonis says ‘ground realities’ must be kept in mind before exiting power in Punjab, KP
• Salik Hussain meets Nawaz, says Moonis never told them about ‘instructions from military’
• PTI chief says assemblies could be dissolved this month

LAHORE: Even though they publicly continue to stand by Imran Khan’s stance that the Punjab Assembly’s fate has been sealed, the Chaudhrys of Gujrat have cautioned the PTI leader to be prudent in his appraisal of the current political situation before taking such a step.

“There is no conflict between the PTI and PML-Q on the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly and we have conveyed this message to the PTI chairman loud and clear: the assembly will be dissolved in the blink of an eye, if he can ensure elections in Punjab soon afterwards,” Moonis Elahi — the son of Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi — told Dawn on Saturday.

“The decision to dissolve the Punjab Assembly should be prudent [and take into consideration] the prevailing ground realities,” he said, adding that this apprehension had been conveyed to Mr Khan when CM Elahi, Moonis and Hussain Elahi called on the former at his Zaman Park residence on Dec 1.

According to the younger Elahi, PML-Q “has whole-heartedly agreed to allow Mr Khan to dissolve assembly anytime, but he should also be mindful of the fact that the PML-N’s coalition government should not be able to delay the elections through technicalities” as that could make things difficult for both parties once they are out of power in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It has been two weeks since Mr Khan sprang the ‘surprise’ decision to quit the provincial governments in the two provinces, and in this time, PTI leaders – from Fawad Chaudhry to Shah Mehmood Qureshi – have constantly conveyed the same message, i.e. they want to dissolve the assemblies immediately.

But Mr Khan, who in recent days has been mum on the question of when assemblies will be dissolved, told Bol News on Saturday that his party would push for dissolution in the current month.

Perhaps realising that general elections cannot be held by March, as he was thinking earlier, Mr Khan expressed the confidence that “PDM parties will be defeated, even if they hold elections after 10 months or a year”.

In his latest interview, the PTI chief acknowledged that CM Elahi had suggested the Punjab government be kept intact for a little more time, but said the PML-Q leader had assured him that they would follow his (Imran’s) instructions.

A few days earlier, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had issued a veiled threat of sorts when he said that Elahi would have to dissolve the assembly if he wanted to maintain their alliance with the PTI. But no one from the Muslim League side responded publicly.

Now, sources in PTI say the party is coming to terms with the realisation that immediate dissolution of the assembly could cause both coalition partners major problems in Punjab.

One of the reasons is that following the announcement that Punjab LG polls will be held in April, it seems unlikely that general elections can be scheduled before then.

Sources in the party’s senior ranks also apprehend serious problems for party leaders, office bearers and supporters once they exit the government setup, along the lines of the police action faced by PTI marchers on May 25 of this year.

Salik meets Nawaz

Meanwhile in London, PML-Q leader and federal minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain called on PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Saturday, where the two men decided that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s faction of the PML-Q would continue its alliance with the PML-N in the days to come.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting at Stanhope House, Mr Hussain was asked if he discussed the possibility of the two factions uniting. “Everything was discussed. My father said to give Mian sahib his regards and inquire after his health as I was visiting London,” he said.

Asked if Pervaiz Elahi was changing direction, he gave a cryptic response: “Intentions matter, if your intentions are not clean, then there are consequences. Everyone knows how things were and what was happening, I don’t want to repeat what was happening.”

To a question on whether Mr Elahi would continue with PTI, he continued, cryptically, saying: “intentions of both sides are not right”.

When asked about Moonis Elahi’s claim that it was pressure from the army that guided their decision to side with Imran Khan, Mr Hussain said, “If that was the case, then they should have told us before leaving. Shujaat sahib asked [Moonis] him very clearly… he should have told him.”

He said he had no reservations if Moonis wanted to contact him.

DAWN
 
Won’t accept any PTI resignations unless sure they aren’t given under pressure: NA speaker

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said on Sunday he would not be accepting the resignations of any lawmakers from the PTI, which announced mass resignations from the lower house of parliament in April, unless he was sure they weren’t tendered under any pressure.

“The law dictates that even if a member says in my presence they want to resign but I have information that they are under pressure, I should not accept their resignation,” he explained while speaking to the media in Lahore when asked about him approving the resignations of only select few PTI lawmakers.

Ashraf alleged that even after the announcement of mass resignations, PTI lawmakers continued to occupy parliament lodges and avail perks given to MNAs. “And then they also send me messages not to accept their resignations. In this scenario […] I will not de-seat any member until I am satisfied” that they were not resigning under pressure, he said.

The speaker also clarified that he had accepted the resignations of those lawmakers who had issued statements in the media and on social media that they had vacated their seats willingly.

The PTI, which saw the ouster of its chief Imran Khan as the premier through a no-confidence vote in April, had announced it was resigning en masse from the NA just hours before then-opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif was to take oath as the country’s new chief executive.

Then-NA deputy speaker Qasim Suri, in the capacity of the house’ acting speaker, had subsequently accepted the resignations of 123 PTI MNAs. However, the incumbent speaker later decided to verify the resignations and eventually accepted the resignations of just 11 lawmakers on July 27.

The PTI had first challenged the move in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 1, contesting that it was “unsustainable”. The IHC, however, had dismissed the petition on September 6 and declared that the acceptance of PTI lawmakers’ resignations by Suri was unconstitutional.

The party then approached the SC, praying it to set aside the IHC order, terming it “vague, cursory and against the law”. A decision on the PTI’s plea in the apex court is still pending.

Meanwhile, de-seated PTI lawmakers claimed again approached the IHC in October, pleading that the NA speaker had treated their “en masse letters” as a resignation and recommended their de-notification to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

In a departure from their previous demand that their resignations be accepted for*thwith, they moved the high court against the approval of their ‘resignations’ by the NA speaker and ECP.

Addressing the matter today, Ashraf said he expected PTI lawmakers to return to parliament, represent their constituencies and contribute to house proceedings.

“Their demand for transparent elections can only be fulfilled if we legislate better, take better measures and work out a strategy together with everyone’s agreement,” he emphasised.

He called for a consensus between the government and the opposition to resolve issues faced by the country. “Just like the government holds importance, so does the opposition,” the speaker remarked.

In reply to a question about “backdoor contacts” between the government and opposition, he stressed that all political leaders and political parties should “address matters with consensus”.

Earlier in the media talk, he highlighted the significance of parliament and using this forum to resolve various issues, which he said would “strengthen the economy” and bring “maturity in politics”.

“I request all political parties and people from all schools of thought that there should be stability in Pakistan’s politics now,” he said, adding, “We need to create an environment where we respect each other and keeping our small matters aside, come together for a bigger cause.

“This is the need of the hour.”

The speaker also emphasised the importance of assemblies completing their tenures, saying it would also “bring maturity [in politics] and strengthen the system”.

DAWN
 
I think the Chaudhrys are not working with PTI but may be taking instructions from else where. It will be a relief for PTI to dump them in the next elections. Khan really needs to make sure that all the election tickets goes to loyal PTI workers if he wants to form a powerful government in the next elections.
 
PTI's ultimatum: announce general elections before Dec 20

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday gave the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) an ultimatum until December 20 to “come up with a final formula” for elections.

Taking to Twitter, Fawad criticised the rival political leaders saying they "do not want elections, but they have no idea how to run the country".

“The country is not run by just making ministers and making foreign visits,” he continued, “this is a complicated and difficult job for which their leadership is unfit.”

“Pakistan needs stability,” he added.

"If the PDM does not come up with a final formula for the country-wide general elections by December 20, then the Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) assemblies will be dissolved and the process of general elections in Punjab and K-P will be completed before March 20," the PTI leader said.

"In this regard," he added "[we] have the full confidence of the allies".

Earlier, former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan had said that he was sticking to his decision to dissolve the provincial assemblies in December in a bid to force the incumbent government into early elections.

“We will implement our decision to dissolve assemblies. We are holding consultations and preparing our party leaders because negotiations for caretaker set-up will start after the dissolution of assemblies,” the former premier had said in an interview with a local TV channel on Saturday.

When asked to give an exact date for the assemblies’ dissolution, Imran had said, “It will be done in December”.

Uncertainty over assembly dissolution

On the other hand, Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi, in an interview on a television channel, had said that the provincial assembly will "continue the same way for the next four months till March” – a statement that appeared to militate against Imran’s resolve to scuttle assemblies this month.

"My stance is the same ... I will dissolve [the assembly] whenever he [Imran] tells me to," he had said. "That decision has been taken. However, now you'd have to think of its pros and cons. For that, we will have to hold talks."

Elahi had said that from now till March would be "the best time for the opposition to initiate talks", adding that homework also needs to be done on how the election would be conducted.

“We have reservations with the chief election commissioner,” the chief minister had said. “He is trying to disqualify Imran Khan.”

Replying to a question on whether he saw the assembly completing its term, the Punjab CM had said “No it’s not like that. [It] depends on the opposition’s behaviour.”

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2390607/ptis-ultimatum-announce-general-elections-before-dec-20
 
I can see PML-Q siding with the PDM soon! Things are cooking up in London.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I heard ghari chor did a press conference. Did he dissolve KP & Punjab assemblies? Of course not. His efforts to turn institutions into his tiger force to do his unconstitutional bidding failed before and will fail again.</p>— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari/status/1601945878167785472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Sanjrani advises Imran to return to parliament
Senate chief welcomes COAS appointment, calls for supporting institutions

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has advised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to return to the parliament.

His comments come as the opposition party remains determined to dissolve the assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) in a bid to push the federal government into holding early elections.

Talking to the media in Karachi, the Senate chief said that he himself was the custodian of parliament, and wanted people to be in the House.

Sanjrani also welcomed the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir.

He said that everyone should support institutions.

"I cannot say anything about whether the assemblies will break or not," he said, adding that looking at the country's situation, "everyone should sit together".

"We will play our role in it," he further said.

After months of street demonstrations and threats of a march to Islamabad, the former ruling party decided against it last month as its supporters gathered in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Taking stock of the consequences of a march to Islamabad, Imran instead announced that his party would get out of the "corrupt system". He, therefore, decided to dissolve the assemblies in Punjab and K-P.

However, the weeks that followed revealed two different opinions in Punjab's ruling circles. While PTI wants to dissolve the assemblies, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) wants to delay the decision for a while.

The former prime minister has acknowledged the difference of opinion, but has remarked that Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will follow what he says. He is determined to proceed with the dissolution in December.

Express Tribune
 
MenInG said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I heard ghari chor did a press conference. Did he dissolve KP & Punjab assemblies? Of course not. His efforts to turn institutions into his tiger force to do his unconstitutional bidding failed before and will fail again.</p>— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari/status/1601945878167785472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Click to expand...

Look who is talking son of maffia Zardari and chor Bhutto shameless clown.
 
PTI to reveal date of assemblies’ dissolution at Liberty Chowk rally
I will announce the date to dissolve Punjab, K-P assemblies before Dec 20, Imran tells lawmakers

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to hold a power show at Liberty Chowk in Lahore and other divisional headquarters across Punjab on Saturday (Dec 17), in which party chairman Imran Khan is expected to announce the future course of action via video link.

In this connection, the former prime minister on Tuesday chaired a meeting of PTI’s Central Punjab and Lahore leadership.

Moreover, during a meeting with the PTI’s lawmakers from Bhakkar, Mianwali, Pakpattan, Sargodha and Sahiwal, PTI chief Imran assured them that the assemblies will be dissolved this month. “I will announce the date to dissolve the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) before December 20”.

Punjab senior minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, provincial health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, former federal Minister Hammad Azhar and other PTI leaders were also present in the meeting.

Imran also highlighted the coalition government’s “inept” economic policies, saying that it has brought the country on the brink of default. “PTI’s politics is not against the country’s interests. PML-Q is our key ally, and we are on the same page over the dissolution decision,” he added.

On this occasion, the PTI lawmakers expressed their support for the PTI chairman’s decision to dissolve the assemblies.

Meanwhile, in a press conference, senior provincial minister Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the PTI has decided to dissolve the assemblies this month and its final date will be announced at Liberty Chowk during party’s power show.

“A meeting has been called under the chair of Imran Khan to discuss matters relating to dissolution of assemblies”.

Iqbal further said in his personal opinion assemblies should be dissolved before December 20 so that elections could be held before Ramazan. “Imran Khan is a reality and Pakistan's politics revolves around him. Hence, no one should be under the illusion of removing the public leader from politics. The leaders of the Pakistan Democratic Movement cannot stand in front of the popularity of Imran Khan,” he added.

The minister averred that political parties operate under ideology while PML-N and PPP have no ideology other than corruption.

“Imran's strenuous efforts are aimed at the elimination of corruption and supremacy of justice and law, and the people are standing with his ideology,” he added.

Also read: ‘Will go to people’s court’ if assemblies dissolved

He said that only snap polls will end political and economic instability in the country, adding that the economy was sinking and no international organisation was ready to trust the incompetent rulers.

Iqbal also regretted that the prices of petroleum products were rising in Pakistan while in other countries it was decreasing.

He further said that the army should not interfere in politics, adding that they want a political dialogue with the federal government, but first it should give a date for the general elections. “All issues, including the dissolution of the assemblies, can be discussed,” he added.

Express Tribune
 
Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday said that he will announce a date to dissolve the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies on December 17.

"I have completed my consultation process with the party. On 17 December, I will give the date [to dissolve assemblies]," he said while addressing a news conference.

He said that after both assembles are dissolved, 70 per cent of Pakistan would go into 'election mode'.

"Wisdom says they should call the elections but the interests of these thieves and Pakistan do not align. The thieves will flee the country because their wealth is abroad. They have no interest in conducting elections. They know they will lose," he said while referring to his political opponents.

Imran urged the institutions including the army and judiciary to play their role in moving Pakistan towards free and fair elections if they were worried about the country.

"There is no way out of this quicksand. Ask any expert and they will tell you that you need political stability to revive the economy," he said.

The PTI chief feared that there would be chaos if there were no free and fair elections in Pakistan. "We already have political instability. The thieves are trying to get me disqualified or stop me from contesting elections. I am here and will continue to fight. They will use ECP, FIA or NAB for a technical knock-out."

Dismissing the impression that PTI wanted the establishment's support, Imran said that he did not need anyone's help. "General Bajwa interfered in politics. During those months, he was openly against us. People were forced to give statements against me," he added.

Criticising the human rights situation in the country, he said that what happened to senior journalist Arshad Sharif, journalist Jamil Farooqi, Senator Azam Swati and others was there to be seen by everyone.

"I was against Musharraf's martial law but I have never seen such human rights violations as I saw during Gen Bajwa's tenure," he said, adding that Pakistan's biggest federal party was being intentionally targeted and attempts were being made to weaken it.

"Just on one tweet, what did they do to Azam Swati. Everyone knows Gen Bajwa gave NRO 2. They told us to forget about accountability and focus on the economy," he added.

Imran said that Swati was beaten in front of his grandchildren and his wife was sent an objectionable video. "Does this happen in a civilised society or country," he questioned.

PTI chief said that he knows who tried to assassinate him. However, he added he could not register FIR as per his wishes despite him being a former prime minister.

"If I can't [lodge an FIR as per my wish], who can? This is the state of human rights in Pakistan. We say IIOJK have human rights issues but what are we doing here? If judges don't protect our fundamental rights, who will?" he remarked.

Imran said that when he criticises Musharraf, it doesn't mean that he is lashing out at the entire institution. Similarly, he added that when he hits out at General Bajwa, he is not criticising the army.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/239107...issolution-of-k-p-punjab-assemblies-on-dec-17
 
Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed has suggested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to not withdraw his decision to dissolve the assemblies, otherwise, he would face political loss, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

While talking to the ARY News programme 11th Hour, Sheikh Rasheed said that Imran Khan usually stood firmly on his decisions and he would also stand firmly on his recent decision to dissolve the assemblies.

The AML chief predicted that the next 15 days are very important in national politics as some key decisions are likely to be made in the coming days.

He claimed that Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M) Akhtar Mengal could part way with the coalition government alongside some other allies.

Rasheed said that Imran Khan was not agreeing with the proposal to form a caretaker government for an extended period, whereas, the incumbent government is insisting to increase the tenure of the caretaker government.

He expressed suspicions that Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) would face disappointment for believing in the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) again.

Imran Khan unveils future strategy

Former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has announced to unveil date for the dissolution of the assemblies on December 17 in a key gathering on Lahore’s Liberty Chowk.

Khan has taken a firm stand on the dissolution of provincial assemblies being ruled by his political party in December.

Imran Khan has ended the confusion regarding the PTI’s stance on the dissolution of the assemblies. The PTI chief held an important session with the party’s senior leaders. Sources added that the PTI senior leaders suggested dissolving the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies on the same date.

Khan said that he has received opinions from all party leaders. He added that he will not announce his decision as the time of consultation has concluded. Imran Khan announced that the assemblies will be dissolved in December.

After chairing the session, Imran Khan made the announcement to unveil the date for dissolving the provincial assemblies in Punjab and KP on December 17. He said that PTI will organise a gathering at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk on December 17 in which he will make the announcement.

Elaborating on the future strategy, Khan said that around 125 PTI lawmakers will appear in the National Assembly (NA) to announce their resignations.

He said that the move will pave way for the organisation of elections on 70 per cent of the seats.
 
GOVT WANTS PTI LAWMAKERS TO RETURN TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Federal ministers Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Senator Azam Nazir Tarar met with President Dr Arif Alvi at Aiwan-i-Sadr to apprise him about the centre’s take on the conditions set forth by the former prime minister.

A well-placed source informed ARY News that the meeting discussed the matters pertaining to the economic and prevailing political situation of the country and legislative issues.

The PDM delegation comprising, Ayaz Sadiq and Azam Nazir Tarrar, put forwarded Centre’s conditions before President Alvi in order to move forward negotiations with PTI on assemblies dissolution and early general elections, they say.

The federal minister asked Arif Alvi to advise PTI lawmakers to return to the National Assembly as reforms on elections and caretaker setup could only take place in parliament, say sources.

Ongoing cases against former prime minister Imran Khan also came under discussion in the meeting that lasted for 45 minutes.

President Alvi assured PDM delegation that he would talk to PTI leadership regarding govt’s conditions and try to find out a middle way on major issues, said sources.

Meanwhile, the president asked all political parties to exhibit political maturity, sources said, adding that the federal ministers apprised Dr Arif Alvi about the government’s stance.

The consultation for the dissolution of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies has entered the final phase and in this context, President Arif Alvi held meeting with Imran Khan at Zaman Park, Lahore.

The PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan is also scheduled to hold meetings with the different leaders of the party to get their take on the dissolution of the assemblies.

It is pertinent to mention here that former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has announced to unveil date for the dissolution of the assemblies on December 17 in a key gathering on Lahore’s Liberty Chowk,

ARY
 
PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday that the party had written a letter to National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf seeking the acceptance of the remaining resignations of PTI lawmakers.

The PTI, which saw the ouster of its chief Imran Khan as the premier through a no-confidence vote in April, had announced it was resigning en masse from the NA just hours before then-opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif was to take oath as the country’s new chief executive.

Then-NA deputy speaker Qasim Suri, in the capacity of the house’ acting speaker, had subsequently accepted the resignations of 123 PTI MNAs. However, the incumbent speaker later decided to verify the resignations and eventually accepted the resignations of just 11 lawmakers on July 27.

The PTI had first challenged the move in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 1, contesting that it was “unsustainable”. The IHC, however, had dismissed the petition on September 6 and declared that the acceptance of PTI lawmakers’ resignations by Suri was unconstitutional.

The party then approached the Supreme Court, praying it to set aside the IHC order, terming it “vague, cursory, and against the law”. A decision on the PTI’s plea in the apex court is still pending.

Meanwhile, Speaker Ashraf earlier this week said that he would not be accepting the resignations of any lawmakers from the PTI unless he was sure they weren’t tendered under any pressure.

Subsequently, in an address to the nation on Wednesday, Imran revealed that PTI lawmakers had decided to go to the NA and demand the acceptance of their resignations from the speaker.

Addressing the matter in a media talk today, Qureshi — who was flanked by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry — said that even though the resignations had been accepted by Suri earlier, the orders had not yet been implemented.

The former foreign minister lambasted the incumbent NA speaker for being “selective” in accepting the resignations of only 11 MNAs in an “illegal manner”.

Qureshi accused Ashraf of using his office as custodian of the House for “partisan reasons” and to provide “political advantage” to the incumbent coalition government by not accepting all the resignations.

He went on to highlight that his party was adamant about its decision to dissolve the assemblies.

“We have already made our decision. We will bring it into action,” he said. “Imran Khan gave me a letter. I’m signing it as the vice chairman of the PTI and sending it to the speaker.”

The said letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, states that PTI leaders have requested a meeting with the National Assembly speaker next week to “reconfirm” their resignations.

“We could agree on a time with you during the next week and reconfirm resignations tendered by our members. We hope that you will not seek to delay this matter any further,” the letter said.

“It remains unclear on what legal basis could your office selectively de-seat some of the National Assembly members instead of all the members,” it added.

“The public’s verdict in the favour of PTI became very evident in these by-elections whereby the party won 75 per cent of the by-election seat,” the letter stated.

‘PTI MNAs stopped receiving salaries after April’
During the media talk today, Chaudhry clarified that PTI MNAs stopped receiving their salaries after April.

His comment comes a day after the top court, during a hearing of a petition challenging the National Accountability Bureau’s new amendments, expressed shock over PTI lawmakers drawing salaries but not holding their seats in the lower house.

Responding to these remarks, the PTI leader said that “government representatives stated incorrect facts in the Supreme Court” and urged for the matter to be thoroughly checked by relevant authorities.

“We should get this checked. We never know what if the government leaders are receiving those salaries and using them on their foreign trips,” he said.

The former minister also said that the party had officially written a letter to the National Assembly speaker only for the Supreme Court’s satisfaction.

Chaudhry said the Election Commission of Pakistan was not accepting the resignations because they were “literally a subsidiary of PML-N”.

“The assemblies will be dissolved. Imran Khan will announce on the Dec 17,” he said. “It could be the 17th or Dec 23. Imran Khan will decide and then 70 per cent of the country will move towards elections,” he asserted.

Chaudhry further said the PTI was trying for the country to move towards general elections under a national framework.
 
Former prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party will dissolve both Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies on Friday, December 23.

"We will sacrifice both assemblies... we are sacrificing them for this nation... there will elections in 66 per cent of Pakistan," he said while addressing his supporters at Lahore's Liberty Chowk via video link.

“We will dissolve Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies next Friday and will prepare for elections.”

Imran said that PTI will go to the National Assembly speaker and ask him to accept the resignations of all PTI lawmakers. "Last time they chose only eight constituencies which were our weakest to conduct by-elections, but I contested elections on all eight seats and won seven of them," he said.

"Now the wisdom says go for general elections. But they will not conduct the polls but we will go for elections ourselves. They will try to delay it via Election Commission of Pakistan, but the Constitution is clear that you cannot delay elections for more than 90 days," he maintained.
 
PML-N moves to nullify Imran's threat of PA dissolution

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has reportedly planned to prevent the possible dissolution of Punjab Assembly as party sources revealed on Saturday that it is likely to submit a no-confidence motion against Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan.
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The PML-N leadership has reportedly given a green signal to submit a motion of no-confidence in the provincial assembly in a bid to prevent the possible dissolution of the provincial assembly by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

As per PML-N sources, the no-confidence motion was signed by party members and they were directed to gather in the office of former provincial education minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan.

The members of the Punjab Assembly are expected to submit the no-confidence motion soon.

The PML-N has started contacting the Assembly Secretariat to submit the motion as the secretariat is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

The move comes as PTI Chairman Imran Khan is expected to announce the future course of action via video link today where he will announce the date of the dissolution of the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

The party has reportedly decided to dissolve the Punjab Assembly in the initial phase, while the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in the second phase.

Sources privy to the matter disclosed that the decision about the dissolution of the provincial assemblies and resignations from the National Assembly was made in the meeting chaired by the former prime minister.

Well-placed sources told The Express Tribune that President Arif Alvi filled in the PTI chief on the series of meetings he held with members of the ruling PML-N.

However, the efforts have not yielded "any wins" as both sides signaled their reluctance to concede their respective positions.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2391522/pml-n-moves-to-nullify-imrans-threat-of-pa-dissolution
 
Rana and the other Noora thugs have goaded IK to dissolve the Assemblies and promised elections if he did. And today their flatulence can be heard across PK and now they are saying they won't let it happen. And these clowns are trying to run a country of 220mn. Bajwa and his disaster has destroyed PK
 
Minutes after PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday announced the date for dissolving the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah questioned why there was a need to wait till next week.

A short while ago, in a video address with Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan by his side, Imran said his two provincial governments will dissolve their assemblies on December 23 (Friday) to pave the way for fresh elections.

Responding to the development during an interview on Geo News show Naya Pakistan, Sanaullah said: “I can’t understand what are they waiting to do till next Friday. If they have decided then they should dissolve the assemblies today.”

He alleged that the PTI and the PML-Q “will try to find an excuse that some no-confidence motion appears or a direction from the governor arrives” so Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi could “have an excuse” to continue his tenure.

He questioned the logic behind this “drama” of waiting till next week if the two parties had actually decided to dissolve the assemblies. “Sign the summaries and send them,” the interior minister challenged.

Questioned on whether the PML-N would submit a no-confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly to block the dissolution, Sanaullah admitted that a section of the PML-N’s parliamentary party held that opinion.

“However, there is also an opinion that they (PTI and PML-Q) shouldn’t be stopped. They should resign and exit the government and then [we] should move forward in accordance with the law and the Constitution, keeping in mind the situation that develops.”

The interior minister added that the party leadership and supremo Nawaz Sharif would make the final decision on the government’s response in the next day or two.

He expressed scepticism that the two parties would follow through on their announcement. “You will see how this matter will pan out in a week’s time. I still fear that they end up doing nothing while making up some excuse,” he added.

The interior minister later followed up this thought in a tweet, saying that “PTI will back off from its today’s announcement of dissolving assemblies within a week taking into account the history of the party’s U-turns.”

When questioned on the hope of any negotiations between the government and the opposition, Sanaullah said he was not in favour of such a development, adding that he wanted the two parties to exit their governments.

Imran will now understand his real standing: Kaira
Meanwhile, Adviser to Prime Minister on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira questioned what stopped the PTI from taking the dissolution step a month ago.

“What was stopping them today? They should have stood up today and announced [the dissolution] and went and submitted the summaries in the assemblies.”

He said the other camp was perhaps “hoping of a middle path” to appear from somewhere to provide some “facesaving”. Kaira expressed confusion that why the PTI would take a step a week later which it was not prepared to do so today.

“Khan sahab will now understand, when he won’t have his governments, how politics is done in Pakistan,” the minister said, adding that the PTI chief would come to understand his real “standing”.

Courage required to dissolve assemblies: Aurangzeb
On the other hand, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said “courage” was required to dissolve assemblies and not “dates.”

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after Imran’s announcement, she accused the former prime minister of “creating a ruckus” regarding the dissolution of assemblies so that “he can protect the theft he conducted during his tenure”.

“They are creating this ruckus so that other issues against him in the form of foreign funding, cipher and Toshakhana can be suppressed,” she said.

Aurangzeb asked Imran why he didn’t dissolve the assemblies “when Gen (R) [Qamar Javed] Bajwa was not letting him work and hold the corrupt accountable”.

“You have protected your theft through the power of these assemblies,” she said. “The corruption in KP will also come to light when the assemblies are dissolved.”

“You should have dissolved the assemblies today,” the information minister said. “What are you waiting for? Why wait till Friday?”

She maintained that Imran “can never dissolve the assemblies because they provide a cover for his corruption”.

Fawad explains wait till next week
Meanwhile, PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry expanded on the rationale behind the wait till next week.

He said there was a six-day break till the step was taken because the PTI still had to process the matter of resigning from the National Assembly.

In his announcement, Imran also said that PTI lawmakers would go to National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and demand that he accept their resignations all at once.

However, the NA speaker told Dawn.com that he would not accept resignations without their confirmation.

“Even if all MNAs arrive, I will not accept any resignation without the confirmation of each member.”

He said that the privacy of the members was important to him and he would personally discuss the acceptance of each MNA’s resignation with them.

“It is not right for all members to come before me and submit their resignations. Members should come to my chamber one by one for confirmation.

“There cannot be a rally on the issue of resignations. Members are shy [about disagreeing] in front of each other so I will not accept resignations given in front of everyone,” the NA speaker said.

DAWN
 
National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has managed to disrupt the PTI's plan by adjourning the lower house for an indefinite period after the latter came up with a new strategy -- 116 members to tender their resignations from the House together.

PTI chairman and former premier Imran Khan’s decision about the dissolution of the provincial assemblies and resignations from the NA has caused a stir in the ruling coalition.

As Imran has announced that his party’s MNAs would tender their resignations again, the number of the remaining PTI lawmakers in the lower house has reduced from 155 to 116.

A total of 21 defecting MNAs of the PTI have opted to remain on the opposition benches.

Three MNAs of the party have not tendered their resignations.

Apart from the seven seats won by Imran, 10 seats of the PTI are empty as the party’s Mahmood Moulvi, Nadeem Khayal Khan and Shandana Gulzar Khan are yet to take oath.

The membership cases of PTI members Abdul Shakoor Shad and Mohammedmian Soomro are still pending in court and three seats are vacant because of Imran's disqualification.

Now, the PTI chief has just 116 MNAs under his belt to play as a bargaining chip.

The reason for the sudden postponement of the longest session of the NA on Tuesday is said to be the PTI’s announcement of resignations from the House.

The NA speaker has accepted the resignations of only 11 PTI members so far. The resignations of the others have not been accepted yet.

To step up the pressure on the government, the PTI has prepared a plan to announce the resignations of its MNAs again.

By adjourning the session indefinitely, the speaker has thwarted the immediate implementation of the PTI's plan.

On the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Arif Alvi had called the session of the NA on November 3.

The government had decided to extend the session, but the PTI MNAs planned to tender their resignations on or before December 20.

After learning about this plan, the government adjourned the session for an indefinite period so that the PTI MNAs would be unable to tender their resignations.

In the past, letters were written to the PTI members, who had resigned individually to confirm before the speaker.

However, none of them appeared before him.

The salaries of the resigned members have been stopped but they are still present in the Parliament Lodges.

Only 15 sittings were held during the last month and a half -- 11 in November and only four days in December.

When the NA speaker was asked that was the session postponed because of the PTI members’ expected arrival and would their resignations be accepted, he replied that he would see when he came to the House.

“I will decide on the resignations when the time comes,” he added.
 
PML-N in no-trust bid to stall efforts to wind up Punjab Assembly

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: In a bid to scuttle the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman’s possible move to dissolve the Punjab Assembly by next Friday, lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) signed a no-trust motion against Chief Minister Parvez Elahi and Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan.

The decision to sign no-trust motions against the CM and the speaker came after the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who met party leaders at his residence in Lahore’s Model Town.

In addition to discussing the no-confidence motion against the CM, the meeting chaired by PM Sharif also mulled approaching the governor for a vote of confidence from the CM. During the meeting, Special Assistant on Interior Attaullah Tarar apprised the PML-N president that the motions would be submitted in the coming week since Imran Khan announced the dissolution of the assembly on Friday.

PML-N MPAs sign no-trust move

Earlier, scores of PML-N MPAs gathered at the residence of Rana Mashhood and signed motions against Mr Elahi and the PA speaker. “On the directives of the party leadership, the required number of MPAs signed the no-confidence motion against the chief minister and the speaker. As Imran Khan has announced the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly next Friday, we may submit the motion in the assembly before this,” PML-N Punjab Information Secretary Azma Bokhari told Dawn. She said not only the no-trust motion was an option but the governor seeking a vote of confidence from the CM was also on the cards.

In response to a question about PML-N’s recent announcement of going to polls if assemblies were dissolved, Ms Bokhari said, “We are very much ready to contest the polls but at the same time we will play our cards wisely.”

A group of lawmakers led by MPA Mashhood also called on the Punjab governor and discussed the option of seeking a vote of confidence from the chief executive of the province.

‘Last resort’

A PML-N leader told Dawn that the party was working on both options. The PML-N insider said while the party was ready to go to polls, but first it would try to foil the dissolution plan through the no-trust motions. The leader termed the contesting elections against the PTI a “last resort”.

Sources claimed PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari was tasked with taking on board at least 10 MPAs of the ruling coalition to snatch the majority from the incumbent CM but he failed to deliver. Against this backdrop, the PML-N and PPP may face problems in making the no-confidence motion against the CM or the speaker successful.

The PTI is of the view that in light of the humiliating defeat of ‘lotas’ (turncoats) in July by-polls, no lawmaker from Imran Khan’s party “can even think of shaking hands with the party of Sharifs”.

Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz, who had gone into hibernation since his defeat at the hands of PTI-PML-Q candidate Parvez Elahi in the chief minister’s election in July, is currently in London with his uncle Nawaz Sharif. He will return to the country if the PML-N goes ahead with its plan of the no-confidence motion.

‘Land mines’ laid by PTI

In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed political stability a vital condition for economic prosperity and controlling inflation. “It is required for the sake of loyalty to Pakistan and allegiance, that there must be economic stability,” he said.

In a statement shared by PM’s Office, the prime minister said it was the “desire of someone that Pakistan get pushed into default, but neither would it happen, nor would they [PDM government] let it happen, InshaAllah”.

The people who had laid land mines in the economic foundations of the country, are out to do the same in the political foundations of the country, the prime minister said in a veiled reference to the PTI. The people who had hurt public confidence, were now out to dissolve assemblies, he said, adding their objective was to create political instability.

The “political miscreants” by spreading anarchy wanted to force the world not to invest in Pakistan, besides hampering the efforts for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people, he added

Sana’s doubts

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah chided PTI Chairman Imran Khan over his much-talked-about plan to dissolve the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

In a statement, he said a competition was going on between Imran Khan and Parvez Elahi. The remarks came amid rumours that Mr Elahi was opposed to the proposal of assemblies’ dissolution and has been highlighting the pitfalls of the decision in behind the scene meetings.

“It is yet to be seen who takes a U-turn and who takes a smart turn,” he remarked. “Imran’s agenda is not to win elections, but to destroy the economy, and foreign funding and audio leaks have proved that he is not sincere with the country,” Mr Sanaullah claimed.

He said that whether Imran Khan dissolves the assemblies or not, he would be the one suffering the loss of political capital due to the decision.

DAWN
 
So puss from the Nooras and the mafia. They goaded IK by saying dissolve the Assemblies and ww will.call the election and today they are in and out of the toilet with Diarrhoea. Pathetic clowns don't want the PK public to decide
 
Imran Khan Slams Pak's Ex Army Chief: "Only Person Responsible For..."

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday warned that his "country is sinking" as he announced that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces will dissolve their assemblies on December 23 to pave the way for fresh polls.

"Till the time free and fair elections are not held, we are all afraid that the country (Pakistan) is sinking," PTI chairman Khan said in a video address with Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan by his side.

Imran Khan also reiterated his demand for free and fair elections, warning the country might sink otherwise. He said free and fair elections were the only solution to Pakistan's problems and said the government was "afraid" of new elections due to the fear of losing, Dawn reported.

"Once we dissolve both the assemblies, we will hold elections in the provinces. Also, our 123-125 National Assembly members -- whose resignations have not been accepted -- will ask the speaker inside the assembly to accept their resignations," he said.

Elaborating on the PTI's plan of action after dissolving the assemblies, he said, "Then we will prepare for elections after that and with our around 130 seats in the National Assembly, we will go to the NA speaker and demand him to accept our resignations instead of picking a few."

Addressing the people of Pakistan, the PTI chief asked the nation to refrain from being disappointed, saying it was akin to "running away from our duty to society", the Dawn newspaper reported.

He said a "lesson should be taught through elections" to the government and deal it "such a defeat that the names of these thieves are wiped out forever".

Imran Khan said the country would "stand up" when "tough decisions" are taken for "restructuring institutions and establishing justice in the country".

At the beginning of his address, Imran Khan bemoaned about the country's current economic situation under the Shehbaz Sharif government. He said a government with a fresh mandate and the nation's support behind it would be able to raise its stature, Dawn reported.

He said the country needed "fresh and fair elections as we fear the country is drowning."

On his ouster from power in April via a no confidence motion, the PTI chief asked, "My question today is, who was responsible for this regime change?"

He blamed Pakistan's former chief of army staff General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa for being involved in the "conspiracy" hatched against his party.

"Gen Bajwa is the only person responsible for bringing down the PTI government," the former Pak prime minister was quoted as saying by The News International reported during his address.

NDTV
 
IK has stated an obvious fact that these crooks are controlled by the Generals. And neither have any support and are now totally reliant on each other to save each other from the noose.
 
PDM mulls over options to avert dissolution of Punjab, KP assemblies

• Shehbaz, Shujaat, Zardari hold separate talks
• Elahi’s resignation to render his dissolution summary ineffective also discussed

LAHORE: The city remained a hub of political activities on Sunday aimed at preventing the dissolution of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former president Asif Zardari and ex-premier Chaudhry Shujaat met each other separately to find a way out of the ‘quagmire’ caused by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s announcement that the two legislatures would be dissolved on Friday.

PM Shehbaz visited Chaudhry Shujaat earlier in the day and reportedly discussed with him the option of re-launching efforts to woo back Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi by offering him to continue as CM with the help of PML-N and PPP’s support after ditching PTI, Mr Elahi’s partner in the coalition ruling Punjab.

In case the ‘carrot’ policy fails, then Mr Shujaat should use his influence on his party’s (PML-Q) 10 MPAs to bar them from voting for Mr Elahi if and when the governor asks him to take a vote of confidence, sources privy to the development say.

Mr Zardari then called on PM Shehbaz at the latter’s Model Town residence and discussed the outcome of his meeting with Chaudhry Shujaat.

Both the sides also discussed various options available with them for preventing the Punjab Assembly’s dissolution. Mr Zardari then left to meet the PML-Q president with some more options at his hand.

A senior PML-N leader told Dawn that Mr Zardari carried a new option for Mr Elahi – resign as chief minister to make ineffective and infructuous the signed summary he had handed over to Imran Khan for the dissolution of the assembly.

This ‘surprise’ step would also ensure that the assembly would remain intact at least until a new chief minister is elected, he said, adding the coveted office may again be offered to Mr Elahi or a person of his choice.

Responding to a question whether PML-N would prefer to move first a no-confidence motion against Mr Elahi or tell the governor to ask the chief minister take a vote of confidence in case the seasoned politician from Gujrat did not accept the ‘carrot’, he said both the options would be used simultaneously.

He explained that as in the case of vote of confidence the Constitution does not explicitly bar a prime minister or chief minister from dissolving the house, they would also file a no-trust motion against the CM (as well as the speaker and deputy speaker) to strip him of the power of dissolving the assembly.

In a hint that internal rifts in the family of Chaudhrys of Gujrat are subsiding, Parvez Elahi revealed in a TV interview that his relations with Chaudhry Shujaat were improving and that they both had offered the last Friday prayers together.

Federal Minister Salik Hussain, who is son of Chaudhry Shujaat, said that PDM may accept Parvez Elahi into its fold if the latter ‘reforms’ himself.

In a statement, he urged the chief minister not to side with ‘the ungrateful’.

Mr Salik saw the opportunity to invite Mr Elahi after the latter launched a tirade against PTI chief, telling him to stop criticising the former army chief since he was a benefactor not of the PML-Q alone but the PTI and Imran Khan in particular.

Commenting on the emerging friction between the PMLQ and PTI, he said: “This was inevitable. If Parvez Elahi will rectify his actions, he can be accepted by the PDM.”

He said, “Gen Bajwa was our benefactor too besides Parvez Elahi and Imran Khan”.

DAWN
 
PE is going to join the PDM soon! PTI is in for a big surprise. Khan should never have told the date for the dissolution of the Punjab assembly.
 
GOVERNOR PUNJAB ASKS CM PERVAIZ ELAHI TO SEEK VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

LAHORE: Soon after the no-confidence motion was submitted, Governor Punjab Baligh ur Rehman directed Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from Punjab Assembly on December 21, ARY News reported on Monday.

According to details, the Governor Punjab has forwarded a letter to Chief Minister’s Secretariat, directing CM Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from Punjab Assembly on December 21.

In this regard, Governor Baligh ur Rehman has summoned a session of the provincial assembly for Wednesday, December 21, 2022, stated the order – shared on Twitter.

Governor Punjab, in its order, said that the chief minister has “lost the confidence of his party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and members of his own party belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)”.

“It is widely known that over the last few weeks serious differences of opinion erupted between two coalition parties of the ruling alliance in the Punjab Assembly i.e. PTI and PML-Q regarding political strategies, dissolution of the assembly, development schemes, and transfers of public officials,” it stated.

The order highlighted that the differences became evident after the appointment of a PTI member — namely Khayal Ahmed — to the provincial assembly without the knowledge of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

“The chief minister has stated in a TV programme on Dec 4 that he is not going to dissolve the provincial assembly until March 2023, a position which is completely at odds with the PTI’s public opinion on the issue,” the order stated.

The order also referred to CM Pervaiz Elahi’s criticism of Imran during an interview yesterday for the latter’s comments on former army chief General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

In this regard, Governor Punjab directed Elahi to seek vote of confidence and subsequently summoned a session on December 21 at 4pm under Section 130(7) of the Constitution.

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) submitted no-trust motion against Punjab chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker to the provincial assembly’s secretariat.

While talking to ARY News, PML-N leader Khawaja Imran Nazir confirmed the development. He claimed that the opposition parties will give a good surprise to the people of Punjab.

He confirmed that the particulars related to the no-trust motion were received by the PA secretary. Nazir said that the no-confidence motion was submitted in accordance with the law after completing the required numbers.

Imran Khan to dissolve assemblies
The development came after Imran Khan announced to dissolve Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies on December 23.

The former premier announced the decision while addressing the nation alongside the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers (CM), Pervaiz Elahi and Mahmood Khan, respectively.

Imran Khan thanked the two provincial chiefs for their cooperation with his party, and said he had consulted PTI’s lawyers about the move, adding that the Constitution did not allow elections to be delayed beyond 90 days of an assembly’s dissolution.

Giving details of PTI’s plan of action, the PTI chief said that after dissolving the assemblies, the party would prepare for elections. “We will go to National Assembly and demand with NA speaker to accept our resignations instead of picking a few,” he added.

The former prime minister said that a “lesson should be taught through elections” to the government and deal it “such a defeat that the names of these thieves are wiped out forever”.

ARY
 
daytrader said:
GOVERNOR PUNJAB ASKS CM PERVAIZ ELAHI TO SEEK VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

LAHORE: Soon after the no-confidence motion was submitted, Governor Punjab Baligh ur Rehman directed Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from Punjab Assembly on December 21, ARY News reported on Monday.

According to details, the Governor Punjab has forwarded a letter to Chief Minister’s Secretariat, directing CM Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from Punjab Assembly on December 21.

In this regard, Governor Baligh ur Rehman has summoned a session of the provincial assembly for Wednesday, December 21, 2022, stated the order – shared on Twitter.

Governor Punjab, in its order, said that the chief minister has “lost the confidence of his party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and members of his own party belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)”.

“It is widely known that over the last few weeks serious differences of opinion erupted between two coalition parties of the ruling alliance in the Punjab Assembly i.e. PTI and PML-Q regarding political strategies, dissolution of the assembly, development schemes, and transfers of public officials,” it stated.

The order highlighted that the differences became evident after the appointment of a PTI member — namely Khayal Ahmed — to the provincial assembly without the knowledge of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

“The chief minister has stated in a TV programme on Dec 4 that he is not going to dissolve the provincial assembly until March 2023, a position which is completely at odds with the PTI’s public opinion on the issue,” the order stated.

The order also referred to CM Pervaiz Elahi’s criticism of Imran during an interview yesterday for the latter’s comments on former army chief General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

In this regard, Governor Punjab directed Elahi to seek vote of confidence and subsequently summoned a session on December 21 at 4pm under Section 130(7) of the Constitution.

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) submitted no-trust motion against Punjab chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker to the provincial assembly’s secretariat.

While talking to ARY News, PML-N leader Khawaja Imran Nazir confirmed the development. He claimed that the opposition parties will give a good surprise to the people of Punjab.

He confirmed that the particulars related to the no-trust motion were received by the PA secretary. Nazir said that the no-confidence motion was submitted in accordance with the law after completing the required numbers.

Imran Khan to dissolve assemblies
The development came after Imran Khan announced to dissolve Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies on December 23.

The former premier announced the decision while addressing the nation alongside the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers (CM), Pervaiz Elahi and Mahmood Khan, respectively.

Imran Khan thanked the two provincial chiefs for their cooperation with his party, and said he had consulted PTI’s lawyers about the move, adding that the Constitution did not allow elections to be delayed beyond 90 days of an assembly’s dissolution.

Giving details of PTI’s plan of action, the PTI chief said that after dissolving the assemblies, the party would prepare for elections. “We will go to National Assembly and demand with NA speaker to accept our resignations instead of picking a few,” he added.

The former prime minister said that a “lesson should be taught through elections” to the government and deal it “such a defeat that the names of these thieves are wiped out forever”.

ARY
Click to expand...

For weeks Rana the Coward goaded IK about dissolution and said if you do, we will go to elections. Another day, another lie
 
PUNJAB ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HINTS AT ADJOURNING SESSION FOR 3 WEEKS

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan has hinted at adjourning the session for two to three weeks after the governor ordered the chief minister to get the vote of confidence tomorrow, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman ordered Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to get the vote of confidence on Wednesday (tomorrow). After the order, PA Speaker Sibtain Khan hinted at adjourning the assembly’s session for two to three weeks.

The interior minister claimed that all of them are in contact with each other while CM Pervaiz Elahi was also rejecting the move to dissolve the provincial assembly along with 90 per cent of lawmakers.

Sanaullah said that if the provincial government does not hold the session at 4:00 pm and the chief minister refuses to get the vote of confidence then the governor will order to seal the CM House. He added that the chief minister will have to get the confidence vote if the session is not held.

The development came a day after Governor Punjab Baligh ur Rehman directed Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from Punjab Assembly on December 21.

The Governor Punjab forwarded a letter to Chief Minister’s Secretariat, directing CM Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from the Punjab Assembly on December 21.

In this regard, Governor Baligh ur Rehman summoned a session of the provincial assembly for Wednesday, December 21, 2022, stating the order – shared on Twitter.

ARY
 
Last edited:
daytrader said:
PUNJAB ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HINTS AT ADJOURNING SESSION FOR 3 WEEKS

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan has hinted at adjourning the session for two to three weeks after the governor ordered the chief minister to get the vote of confidence tomorrow, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman ordered Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to get the vote of confidence on Wednesday (tomorrow). After the order, PA Speaker Sibtain Khan hinted at adjourning the assembly’s session for two to three weeks.

The interior minister claimed that all of them are in contact with each other while CM Pervaiz Elahi was also rejecting the move to dissolve the provincial assembly along with 90 per cent of lawmakers.

Sanaullah said that if the provincial government does not hold the session at 4:00 pm and the chief minister refuses to get the vote of confidence then the governor will order to seal the CM House. He added that the chief minister will have to get the confidence vote if the session is not held.

The development came a day after Governor Punjab Baligh ur Rehman directed Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from Punjab Assembly on December 21.

The Governor Punjab forwarded a letter to Chief Minister’s Secretariat, directing CM Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from the Punjab Assembly on December 21.

In this regard, Governor Baligh ur Rehman summoned a session of the provincial assembly for Wednesday, December 21, 2022, stating the order – shared on Twitter.

ARY
Click to expand...

Rana the criminal is not ******** bricks. This coward was saying dissolve the Assemblies and we go to elections and look at him now. These clowns know they will get destroyed at the elections and soon they will tell us there is an economic emergency and the elections can't be held.
 
Bewal Express said:
Rana the criminal is not ******** bricks. This coward was saying dissolve the Assemblies and we go to elections and look at him now. These clowns know they will get destroyed at the elections and soon they will tell us there is an economic emergency and the elections can't be held.
Click to expand...

And they have the gall to say PTI is undemocratic.
 
PTI leader and former minister Hammad Azhar said on Wednesday that the party has decided to hold a gathering outside the Punjab Governor House on Thursday (tomorrow), adding that Chairman Imran Khan will address supporters and announce a new “plan of action”.

“Attempts are being made to disrespect the PTI mandate […] our MPAs are getting telephone calls and money of the Zardari rule is being used for games in Punjab,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that Imran had last week said that his governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will dissolve provincial assemblies this Friday (Dec 23).

Subsequently, the coalition government had sprung into action to prevent Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi from dissolving the Punjab Assembly.

On Sunday, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with cabinet members from PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat’s faction and discussed the prospects of CM Elahi to join hands with the PDM with PML-Q ministers Salik Hussain and Tariq Bashir Cheema.

Meanwhile, former president Asif Ali Zardari continued consultations on the future of the provincial legislature with Shujaat. The federal ruling alliance has its eyes set on the 10 PML-Q lawmakers in Punjab as the tally may swing in its favour if at least seven of the MPAs are ‘persuaded’ to change their loyalties.

According to a party insider, both Zardari and Shujaat have been working on these lines.

Referring to these developments in a media talk flanked by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in Lahore today, Azhar said that the public would not stay quiet anymore.

“This time, the nation will show what it wants […] The people will not become silent spectators. Enough is enough.

“Imran has decided that we will collect a big crowd outside the Governor House to prevent them [the Pakistan Democratic Movement] from taking any unconstitutional steps,” Azhar said.

He went on to say the PTI chief will address the gathering at 5pm and announce the way forward.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry claimed that PTI’s female members were “offered money from Zardari sahab’s party”.

“The MPAs told Imran Khan that they got calls in Multan and Lahore […] they were told to abstain and remain missing from the vote of confidence [against Elahi], but they rejected that too,” he said.

In a double-edged move on Monday, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman had asked CM Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the Punjab Assembly today, while PML-N and PPP lawmakers submitted a separate no-trust resolution against him in a bid to bar him from dissolving the assembly.

However, the PTI had said that Elahi would not seek the vote of confidence and termed the governor’s order “illegal”.

Commenting on the matter in today’s media talk, Chaudhry reiterated that the governor’s order was “unconstitutional”, adding that if “Rehman crosses his limits, he can be charged under Article 6 [treason] of the Constitution”.

DAWN
 
Bewal Express said:
For weeks Rana the Coward goaded IK about dissolution and said if you do, we will go to elections. Another day, another lie
Click to expand...

According to these traitors, Pakistan barely has any money, I wonder how majors beloved wife killer zardari finds funds to buy PTI members.
 
he constitutional crisis may deepen in Punjab as Governor Balighur Rehman, who belongs to the PML-N, is considering de-notifying Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, a PML-Q stalwart, after the latter’s failure to take a vote of confidence in accordance with Article 130(7) of the Constitution.

In case of de-notification, Elahi will continue to work until a new chief minister is elected. However, his cabinet members will be sacked.

A senior government functionary disclosed that the governor might change his mind in case of any agreement through back-channel talks. “Our prime objective is that the Punjab Assembly should not be dissolved,” he added.

A senior PTI leader said in case the governor issued a de-notification order, CM Elahi would seek a legal opinion from the advocate general’s office.

“If the advocate general says that the governor's order is illegal, then the chief minister will also reject it,” he added.

On the question about whether or not the PTI would approach the judiciary against the de-notification, the senior leader replied that his party would not move the court. “If they [governor and the opposition in Punjab) want, then they should approach the court,” he said.

It has been learnt that the PTI was facing a shortage of the support of six MPAs in the Punjab Assembly. However, the PTI leaders are claiming that there was no issue of the numbers in the provincial assembly.

Since March, there has been instability in Punjab. First, then Punjab Assembly speaker Elahi was delaying the election of the chief minister. Later, the election was held on directives of the Lahore High Court.

Subsequently, the election result was disputed by the PTI and PML-Q. The then Punjab governor had refused to swear in new chief minister Hamza Shehbaz.
Later, his oath was administered to him by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf on the LHC’s directives.

In May, the Supreme Court majority judgment had held that votes of defecting lawmakers would not be counted as it was a violation of Article 63 (A) of the Constitution.

Legal experts term this SC ruling as the worst judgement of this year wherein the Constitution was re-written by three judges.

Even two members of the bench had opposed their opinion.

Subsequently, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had de-seated defecting lawmakers of the PTI.

Before the by-elections, the apex court intervened again on a PTI plea.

A schedule was issued for the holding of the election for the chief minister after the by-polls.

The PTI managed to bag the majority of the seats in the by-elections and it was able to elect Elahi as the new chief minister.

Now, PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan has announced dissolving the Punjab Assembly on December 23.

It is an open secret that CM Elahi does not want the dissolution of the assembly because of certain reasons.

However, he conditionally agreed with the PTI to dissolve assembly.

Currently, negotiations are under way between the PTI and PML-Q for a seat adjustment formula for the next general elections in Punjab.

Legal experts said the crisis in Punjab could be resolved through political dialogue.

They added that the superior courts’ intervention was not a permanent solution.

The PML-N should consider the option of holding general elections.

Similarly, Imran should also think about what kind of precedent was being set by his party.

He could have waited for the general elections, which were due to be held next year.

Several PML-N lawyers said the PTI chief was in a hurry to avoid his disqualification.

Political analysts said the PTI had so far failed to maintain a cordial relationship with the powerful circles, who also did not want the dissolution of any assembly -- as revealed by CM Elahi in a recent interview.

A PTI leader disclosed that Elahi had suggested that the Imran-led party should not dissolve the assembly immediately and try to resume the cordial ties with the powerful circles like the ones it had before the 2018 general elections.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said in case of any illegal action, the president might initiate action against governor.

However, constitutional expert Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan said the president had no authority to take action against the governor.
 
RANGERS DEPLOYED TO PROTECT PUNJAB GOVERNOR HOUSE AHEAD OF PTI PROTEST

The Ministry of Interior in the wee hours of Thursday sought deployment of Rangers to protect the Governor House, Lahore, after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced to hold a protest demonstration in front of the official residence of the Punjab governor, ARY News reported.

The interior ministry has written a letter to Director General Rangers Punjab for deployment of sufficient strength of Pakistan Rangers for protection of Governor’s House, Lahore, under section 7 (b) and 10 of the Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959, and section 4 (3) (i) of Anti-terrorism Act, 1997.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also issued directives to the provincial chief secretary and inspector general (IG) to maintain law and order.

The development comes after PTI had announced to hold a protest outside the Governor’s House at 5pm today to stop the governor from taking any ‘unconstitutional step’.

PTI leader Hammad Azhar announced this while talking to reporters here along with party’s senior Vice-president Fawad Chaudhry.

Speaking to journalists in Lahore, the PTI leader Hammad Azhar had said that the party has decided to hold a public gathering outside Punjab Governor House today (Thursday), wherein Imran Khan will announce a new plan of action.

He also levelled allegations against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari of ‘horse trading’, saying that PTI Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) were getting telephone calls and Zardari’s money was being used for games in Punjab.

Political crisis intensifies
The political crisis in Punjab has intensified after the Centre and the province came face-to-face over the no-trust voting against Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, PA speaker and deputy speaker.

The crisis deepened after the governor and PA speaker rejected each other’s rulings regarding the no-trust voting and summoning of a special session for vote of confidence today.

READ: RANA SANAULLAH SAYS CM PERVAIZ ELAHI CANNOT BE GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE

Sources told ARY News that Punjab Governor Baligh-ur-Rehman is expected to denotify Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi after he did not seek the vote of confidence from the provincial assembly today.

The notification for removing CM Pervaiz Elahi was prepared and signed by Governor Baligh-ur-Rehman, sources within the Governor’s House said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Governor Punjab Baligh ur Rehman had directed Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from the Punjab Assembly on December 21.

ARY
 
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said on Thursday that the PTI has decided to postpone the dissolution of the provincial assembly until the fate of the Punjab Assembly is decided.

“Imran Khan will first decide the future of the Punjab Assembly,” he said in a media talk at the Hayatabad Sports Complex.

The PTI chief had on Dec 17 announced that the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where his party is in power, would be disbanded on Dec 23 — tomorrow to pave way for fresh elections.

“Right now, consultation on the matter of the Punjab Assembly is under way. The decision regarding the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will be taken after these discussions.”

CM Mahmood added that he was in contact with his party’s senior leadership. “Up until now, Imran has not given me any directions on the dissolution. I will contact Imran today but first a decision regarding the Punjab Assembly will be taken.”

Earlier in the day, Punjab government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif tweeted that the dissolution of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will be as per Imran Khan’s orders.
 
So all the Nooras droned on about IK not having the courage and when he did, they kacked the bed. What a pathetic bunch of idiots we have.
 
Cricket-lion said:
How can he dissolve assemblies if PDM throw spanners? Naive statement from you.
Click to expand...

Not naive, it just shows that Khan is very impulsive, lacks clarity of thought. He publicly announced that he will dissolve the PA which made PDM bring in no-confidence vote. Now, the PA cannot be dissolved! Khan wanted to show everybody he was macho but it has backfired. Who is naive? Me or IK?

By the way, PTI will lose its government in Punjab thru no-confidence vote. This is my prediction. Some have changed loyalties!
 
PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday bemoaned the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s attempts to not let him exercise his “constitutional right” of dissolving provincial assemblies as he reiterated his demand for “free and fair elections”, which he said was the only way to drag the country out of the crisis.

Imran made the remarks as he addressed his party’s parliamentarians, supporters and workers who had gathered outside the Punjab Governor House in Lahore to “block” Balighur Rehman from taking any “unconstitutional” decision of de-notifying Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

“Today I want to talk to the nation about the situation in Punjab,” he said. “There is a strange environment. Initially, the PML-N was challenging us to dissolve assemblies, saying that they were ready for elections. But when we did that, a vote of confidence and no-trust motions were moved in the Punjab Assembly.”

The PTI chief explained that he wanted to dissolve his provincial assembles “because we fear that if snap polls are not held, the country will slip out of our hands”.

Imran claimed that the reason behind “this joke in Punjab” was one: “They [the coalition government] is running away from elections. The convict sitting abroad and Zardari are scared.

“They have a one-point agenda to hide their theft and they will hurt the country in the process. They won’t think about Pakistan once. All they want is an NRO 2,” he alleged.

‘One man’s animosity against PTI’
The PTI chief said that “one man’s animosity” with his party eight months ago was why the country had plunged into a crisis.

He recalled that since his ouster, the PTI and its members have been oppressed only because of “one man”. “What was our fault? Only that we refused to accept the thieves you imposed on us?”

Initially, Imran pointed out, it was only the PTI. “But then the country decided to join us. This man saw that the nation was with us […].

“Never did the nation come out in huge numbers, that too again and again. It was giving one message that the imported government was unacceptable,” he said.

However, the ex-premier contended that “one man” was still apt at “destroying” his party and went to all extents. “When they saw that nothing was working out, they decided to kill me and remove me from the way.”

He then asked: “This one man, what more will you do to force us to accept the imported government?

“Videos and audios are being leaked on social media […] tell me, how low will we fall,” Imran asked, claiming that all of these things were being done to blackmail his party.

‘Where is our foreign policy?’
During his address, Imran also raised questions about the country’s foreign policy and criticised the government for the rising incidents of terror in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that during the PTI tenure, Pakistan had the “best relations” with the interim Afghan government which helped “put a stop” to terrorism, recalling that the country had aided evacuations from the neighbouring country.

“But today, what is happening in Malakand and Bannu […] I want to ask where is our foreign policy,” Imran said, as he called for mending ties with Afghanistan.

He also decried the lack funds provided to KP, warning that if the money was not released, the situation in the province will “go out of our hands”.

‘Are institutions not worried?’
Concluding his address, Imran asked the institutions, “all those that have a stake in the country”, if they were not worried about where Pakistan was heading and its future.

“Are you not worried today that our country is heading towards a point where there will be no coming back,” he asked and then stressed that snap polls was the only solution.

“As soon as elections are held, we will get a chance to get out of this mess. Without political stability, there is no economic stability,” he added.

Crisis in Punjab
Earlier, PTI demonstrators congregated and chanted slogans against the governor, and also brought a 100-meter-long PTI flag to show their support for Imran.

PTI leaders Yasmin Rashid and Hammad Azhar also attended the protest.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1727700/i...issolving-assemblies-his-constitutional-right
 
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Friday said that both Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies would eventually be dissolved whether it takes a week's time or two.

He was speaking to the media after the Lahore High Court (LHC) reinstated Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as Punjab chief minister after getting assurance from the PTI-allied Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leader that he would not dissolve the Punjab Assembly.

"Assemblies will be dissolved no matter what... whether it takes a week or two, they will be dissolved and the country will move towards general elections," he said, adding that the PTI does not agree to the undertaking submitted in the court.
 
PTI resignations: Plan to approach NA speaker likely to hit a snag
PTI MNAs will need individual appointments from speaker to verify resignations, NA speaker secretariat sources say

The PTI leadership’s plan to send its members of National Assembly to the lower house on Wednesday for approaching the speaker to accept their resignations seems to be ineffective as the custodian of the house won’t be in the capital on the day.

Highly-placed sources of the NA Speaker Secretariat told The News on Sunday that the parliamentary leader of PTI Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been informed in writing that his party’s MNAs would have to get appointments individually from the speaker for verifying their resignations. The members would be intimated about the schedule to come for verification of their resignations just like the previous occasion when they were given six days in June to turn up but none showed up. The speaker won’t accept any resignation unless he is convinced that the member has tendered his resignation willingly.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/10...n-to-approach-na-speaker-likely-to-hit-a-snag
 
PTI MNAS TO MEET NA SPEAKER TODAY FOR VERIFICATION OF RESIGNATIONS

A meeting between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs with National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has been scheduled today (Thursday) for the personal verification of party resignations, ARY News reported quoting NA spokesperson.

Taking to Twitter, the NA spokesperson said that former PTI chief whip Malik Amir Dogar and Raja Ashraf had a telephonic conversation where matters related to the resignations of MNAs came under discussion.

“The speaker told Dogar that both he and the deputy speaker were present in their offices and were waiting for PTI MNAs,” he said.

Earlier, PTI members postponed their appearance before the NA speaker for the confirmation of the resignations tendered by the MNAs due to the “non-availability” of Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

...
https://arynews.tv/pti-mnas-na-speaker-verification-of-resignations/
 
The meeting between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation and Speaker of the National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf ended inconclusively on Thursday as the latter refused to accept en masse resignations of the PTI members of the National Assembly (MNAs).

On the other hand, the PTI delegation demanded the speaker accept the collective resignations.

The PTI delegation met the speaker at the Parliament House on the issue of confirmation of the resignations of PTI lawmakers.

Express Tribune
 
Eyebrows raised as Qureshi, Khattak skip meeting with NA speaker

• Ashraf insists on individual meetings, lawmakers adamant their resignations be approved collectively
• Party members say they will approach Supreme Court
• Eyebrows raised as Qureshi, Khattak skip meeting

ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: The issue of resignations of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders from the Nat*ional Assembly remained unsettled on Thursday as a crucial meeting between NA Speaker Pervaiz Ashraf and a PTI delegation failed to break the deadlock.

The PTI delegation was led by former NA speaker Asad Qaiser after senior party leaders Shah Mah*mood Qureshi and Pervez Khattak decided to skip the meeting at the last minute.

Their conspicuous absence from the meeting prompted a summons from PTI Chairman Imran Khan who asked them to visit him in Lahore for an explanation.
...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1728974/pti-mnas-finally-come-face-to-face-with-na-speaker
 
As the issue of the resignations of PTI leaders from the National Assembly remains unsettled despite repeated attempts to seek final approval from the speaker, the party has decided to take the unresolved matter to the Supreme Court where an application for the same will be moved next week.

Chaudhry Faisal Hussain, advocate representing the PTI General Secretary Asad Umar, has already filed a petition in the apex court against the IHC decision for not giving a declaration that the acceptance of resignations of 123 lawmakers by the then deputy speaker had taken effect and that the speaker has no power or jurisdiction regarding verification thereof.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Had an excellent meeting with Allama Raja Nasir & MWM delegation yesterday. All misunderstandings were cleared & they reiterated their commitment to our struggle for Haqeeqi Azadi. I assured them we would resolve any problems they may face in KP & Punjab.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1611565339610857472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
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.
 
PTI takes U-turn on Punjab CM Parvez Elahi’s trust vote decision
The PTI decided that Punjab CM Parvez Elahi would not take a vote of confidence ahead of the LHC's January 11 hearing of a case pertaining to his de-notification

LAHORE: Backtracking from its earlier consensus, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided that Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi would not take a vote of confidence ahead of the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) January 11 hearing of a case pertaining to his de-notification.

On December 23, the LHC restored CM Parvez Elahi after Governor Baligh Ur Rehman denotified Elahi for failing to take the vote of confidence from the provincial assembly.

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

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1028255-pti-takes-u-turn-on-punjab-cm-s-trust-vote-decision
 
Shujaat rules out PA dissolution, snap polls
JUI-F team calls on PML-Q chief to discuss economic, political issues as well as flour shortage

PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Sunday said neither the Punjab Assembly would be dissolved, nor was there any possibility of snap polls taking place in the country.

His remarks came during a meeting with JUI-F General Secretary Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri who, along with a party delegation, met with the PML-Q chief at his residence in Lahore.

The JUI-F delegation informed Shujaat about the problems being faced by the people in Balochistan, especially the shortage of wheat flour.

The economic and political issues of the country were also discussed in the meeting.

Shujaat assured the JUI-F delegation that neither would the Punjab Assembly be dissolved, nor would there be snap polls in the country.

...
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2394828/shujaat-rules-out-pa-dissolution-snap-polls
 
Elahi signs summary for PA dissolution: PTI sets sights on Punjab interim set-up
Assembly to stand dissolved in 48hrs even without governor's sign, as per Constitution

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Thursday sent an advice to the governor for the dissolution of the provincial assembly.

According to the Constitution, after advice is sent by the chief minister, the assembly would stand dissolved within 48 hours even if the governor did not sign the summary.

According to the PMLN leadership, the Governor’s House had not yet received the summary. They said the party would devise its strategy after receiving the document from the chief minister.

The ruling PDM circles fear a constitutional crisis may crop up with three assembles, National Assembly and two provincial assemblies, staying intact while two standing dissolved.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry confirmed to the media that the CM had signed the summary for assembly dissolution, and it had been sent to the governor for his signature.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/10...tion-pti-sets-sights-on-punjab-interim-set-up
 
IMRAN KHAN LIKELY TO ANNOUNCE DISSOLUTION OF KP ASSEMBLY TODAY

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan summoned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and his cabinet members to Lahore on Friday (today), ARY News reported.

KP CM Mahmood Khan along with his provincial cabinet will reach Lahore today. The KP CM and his cabinet will hold a meeting with the PTI chief.

Sources told ARY News that Imran Khan would make an announcement for the dissolution of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly today.

...
https://arynews.tv/imran-khan-likely-to-announce-dissolution-of-kp-assembly-today/
 
Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Mahmood Khan on Saturday announced that the provincial assembly will be dissolved today.

Addressing a presser in Peshawar, Khan stated that this was his "last address" as the K-P assembly would be dissolved today.

Express Tribune
 
The Punjab Assembly (PA) stood dissolved on Saturday as Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman excused himself from the process, saying he could not become a part of the move.

A notification from the governor, available with Dawn.com, for the appointment of the caretaker chief minister was dispatched to Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi and Leader of the Opposition in the PA Hamza Shahbaz. It said the PA and provincial cabinet stood dissolved under Article 112(1) of the Constitution.
 
PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif attending an important party meeting via video link from London directed its leaders and workers on Saturday to start preparation for elections in Punjab and pledged that the federal coalition would not be ‘blackmailed’ by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s demand to hold snap elections in the country.

Also, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman after a meeting with PM Shehbaz said he decided not to sign Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s advice to dissolve the Punjab Assembly.

“I have decided not to become part of the process leading to the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. I would rather let the Constitution and law take their own course. Doing so will not hamper any legal process as the Constitution clearly provides a way forward,” Mr Rehman tweeted.

DAWN
 
Only provincial assembly elections would be held but not general elections. So, all this exercise has been futile.
 
saeedhk said:
Only provincial assembly elections would be held but not general elections. So, all this exercise has been futile.
Click to expand...

Even provincial elections will be damaging for PDM. The election results will be for 5 years. They will have no chance in Punjab or KPK. They won't be able to play their number games for 5 years to topple the provincial governments.
 
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has denotified more Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the NA speaker accepted their resignations, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

After the announcement of PTI MNAs’ return to the National Assembly, the federal government made a move to accept their resignations in an apparent bid to reduce the number of opposition lawmakers.
 
MenInG said:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has denotified more Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the NA speaker accepted their resignations, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

After the announcement of PTI MNAs’ return to the National Assembly, the federal government made a move to accept their resignations in an apparent bid to reduce the number of opposition lawmakers.
Click to expand...

The mafia have **** the bed. And whatever happened to Rentals rules asking each member individually. And why the 35 and not all. These clowns and their stupidity
 
Bewal Express said:
The mafia have **** the bed. And whatever happened to Rentals rules asking each member individually. And why the 35 and not all. These clowns and their stupidity
Click to expand...

As Imran Khan said a day earlier they might return to the assembly for a VONC against showbaz chor so the very next day chor rental got up and accepted their resignations like a typical coward just like the bhaigairat who is hiding in London for over 3 years.

Moeed Pirzada's banana republic video on the matter is a must watch.
 
Governor Haji Ghulam Ali on Wednesday signed the summary on the dissolution of the provincial assembly on advice of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, mere days after the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly.

Express Tribune
 
Browncaps said:
As Imran Khan said a day earlier they might return to the assembly for a VONC against showbaz chor so the very next day chor rental got up and accepted their resignations like a typical coward just like the bhaigairat who is hiding in London for over 3 years.

Moeed Pirzada's banana republic video on the matter is a must watch.
Click to expand...

So our courts need to be held accountable for this nonsense. What happened to the coward that holds the CJP seat.
 
Political analysts are saying that the PML-N-led government will not be able to avoid general elections for long as it has lost the “political and moral credibility” to govern the country, following the acceptance of the resignations of the PTI MNAs, even though it were the latter who had tendered them in the first place last year.

The analysts believe that the government wants to evade a political assault on it, but it will find it hard to pretend anymore that everything is running smoothly and elections will be held on time, particularly after the dissolution of two provincial assemblies and de-notification of around 80 PTI lawmakers.

Eminent scholar Prof Dr Hasan Askari and analyst Zaigham Khan held the view that the government’s decision to accept the resignations of PTI lawmakers, just to avoid snap polls, had not only created a huge vacuum but also undermined the democratic system.

Prof Askari, who served as a caretaker Punjab chief minister in 2018, said it was time the government showed commitment to the parliamentary and democratic system.

“If there is no moral commitment to the democratic system, then you can see what is happening in Pakistan right now,” he added.

Keeping the economic crisis in view, Askari explained, the system would ultimately become dysfunctional and the government would not be able to sustain for long.

“By-elections won’t make any sense just ahead of the general elections,” he noted.

“The federal government is trying its best to avoid elections but it can’t,” he predicted.

“The political and moral credibility has severely been undermined,” Prof Askari observed.

Giving the example of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has recently decided to quit citing a burnout, Askari said her country did not even face a situation like the one in Pakistan yet its premier preferred to quit instead of clinging on to power by hook or by crook. “That isn’t the case in Pakistan,” he added.

Zaigham, who is an anthropologist and development professional, said the situation had become “expensive for the ruling alliance”, especially, when it could not avoid the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme for the next couple of months because the risk of default had increased manifold.

“However, the cost of the IMF programme is too much,” Zaigham observed.

“If the government goes to the IMF then it would lose its remaining political capital but if it doesn’t then the country would default on its external payments,” he elaborated.

Maintaining that the government’s policy was reactive and decision-making was based on fear, Zaigham said the legitimacy of parliament and democracy would be questioned if the government went for by-elections instead of general polls.
“It’s very hard for me to understand how the government can gain from the current situation,” he wondered.

Zaigham said to continue ruling in the absence of a major chunk of lawmakers in the National Assembly would raise a serious question about the moral authority of the government and legitimacy of parliament.

“The ruling alliance has lost the political and moral authority to rule anymore,” he added.

Zaigham felt that begging without resorting to any reforms, including electoral and financial ones, had irritated the global lenders and friendly countries and, perhaps, that was why they had started avoiding Pakistan’s appeals of providing monetary assistance.

The political commentators say that the government is busy accepting the resignations of the PTI lawmakers, who had resigned en masse in April last year, so that it could continue accommodating the disgruntled party lawmakers, who had supported it at the time of no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan.

Also, they noted, the government would find it easy to finalise details of a caretaker set-up with the incumbent opposition leader Raja Riaz than the one appointed by PTI chief Imran Khan, if the remaining lawmakers of his party return to the NA and outnumber the disgruntled PTI lot.

However, they feel, opting for by-polls to fill the seats of over 120 MNAs would not be a wise political move, especially, if the ruling alliance loses Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the elections expected to be held in the next three months.

“This cat-and-mouse game won’t continue for long,” Zaigham concluded.

Express Tribune
 
44 PTI lawmakers to withdraw resignations from National Assembly: Asad Umar

PTI leader Asad Umar said on Monday that 44 party lawmakers have decided to withdraw their resignations from the National Assembly and emails in this regard have been sent to Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

The decision, he said, was taken on orders of PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan after the speaker refused to accept all the resignations together.

“The next step will be the nomination of the opposition leader,” Umar tweeted.

The lawmakers who have decided to withdraw their resignations — shared by Umar — include Muhammad Riaz Khan, Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh, Shaheen Niaz, Nasarullah Dareshar, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Nafeesa Inayat Khan, Malik Anwar, Saleh Mohammad, Jai Parkash, Tahir Sadiq, Niaz Ahmed, Raza Nasarullah, Javed Iqbal, Munaza Hasan, Lal Chand Malhi, Sajida Zulfiqar, Sardar Muhammad Khan, Uzma Riaz, Tashfeen Safadar, Jawad Hussain and Nausheen Hamid.

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1733212/4...resignations-from-national-assembly-asad-umar
 
PTI cries foul amid reports of acceptance of further NA resignations

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday cried foul after reports regarding National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf accepting the resignations of more PTI lawmakers emerged on media.

NA officials told Dawn.com that Ashraf has accepted further resignations and forwarded them to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). However, there is no official confirmation on the matter.

Reacting to the development, Chaudhry tweeted that the purpose of PTI members going back to the assembly was to oust Raja Riaz from the position of the opposition leader.

Otherwise, we have no reason to return to the National Assembly, he tweeted, adding: “Right now, Shehbaz Sharif and his government have lost the support of 172 lawmakers.”

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1733370/p...orts-of-acceptance-of-further-na-resignations
 
ECP denotifies last batch of PTI MNAs who resigned en masse
With the denotification of 43 MNAs, the number of PTI lawmakers in NA loyal to Imran Khan has come to zero

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday denotified 43 lawmakers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf whose resignations were accepted by National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf.

According to Geo News sources, the NA speaker had approved the resignations on “January 22 and forwarded them to the electoral body the same day” for further processing.

The news had come after the party announced that its MPs are withdrawing their resignations and returning to the assembly in a bid to claim the posts of the leader of the opposition and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee — a powerful NA body that keeps a check on government spending.

Last week, the Election Commission denotified 80 members of the PTI and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Chief of the Awami Muslim League and Imran Khan’s ally.

With the acceptance of 123 resignations only dissident PTI lawmakers remain in the National Assembly.

Though former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has been disqualified from his seat in the Mianwali constituency, he has won from six constituencies in the by-elections of 11 vacant seats of the National Assembly.

He has not taken yet an oath from any of the winning seats while another PTI candidate Maulvi Mehmood, who won the election from the seat that fell vacant due to the death of Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain from Karachi, is yet to take oath.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1...-last-batch-of-pti-mnas-who-resigned-en-masse
 
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday announced by-elections on March 16 for 33 National Assembly (NA) seats.

The seats were vacated after NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf swiftly moved to accept the resignations of PTI lawmakers and AML chief Sheikh Rashid, pending since April 2022, in an apparent bid to scuttle the opposition’s purported plan to bring a confidence motion agai*nst Prime Minister Shehbaz Sha*rif.

According to a notification issued by the electoral watchdog today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the by-polls will be held in the following constituencies:

NA-04 Swat-III
NA-17 Haripur-I
NA-18 Swabi-I
NA-25 Nowshera-I
NA-26 Nowshera-II
NA-32 Kohat
NA-38 D I Khan-I
NA-43 Khyber-I
NA-52 Islamabad-I
NA-53 Islamabad-II
NA-54 Islamabad-III
NA-57 Rawalpindi-I
NA-59 Rawalpindi-III
NA-60 Rawalpindi-IV
NA-62 Rawalpindi-VI
NA-63 Rawalpindi-VII
NA-67 Jhelum-II
NA-97 Bhakkar-I
NA-126 Lahore-IV
NA-130 Lahore-VIII
NA-155 Multan-II
NA-156 Multan-III
NA-191 Dera Ghazi Khan-III
NA-241 Korangi Karachi-III
NA-242 Karachi East-I
NA-243 Karachi East-II
NA-244 Karachi East-III
NA-247 Karachi South-II
NA-250 Karachi West-III
NA-252 Karachi West-V
NA-254 Karachi Central-II
NA-256 Karachi Central-IV
NA-265 Quetta-II

The notification said that the returning officers (RO) would issue a public notice in this regard on Feb 3. Candidates can file their nomination papers with the RO from Feb 6-8.
 
PHC DIRECTS ECP TO ANNOUNCE ELECTION SCHEDULE

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Wednesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the election schedule in the province, ARY News reported.

A bench consisting of Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Shumail Butt heard petitions against a delay in the announcement of the schedule for polls to the provincial assembly, which was dissolved on Jan 18.

At the outset of the hearing, Justice Arshad Ali remarked the court will ask ECP what will happen as the president has announced the date of the election in KP.

President Alvi wrote a letter to the ECP for consultation on the election date, but the body did not agree with the president’s invitation, the ECP lawyer said in his arguments.

He further said the ECP has summoned the attorney general of Pakistan for consultation on the matter and the minutes of the meeting will be shared with the PHC.

How can ECP disagree with the PrpresidentJustice Arshad asked. The PHC while ordering the ECP to announce the election schedule for by-polls in KP issued notice to the AGP to assist the court.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned until February 28.

ARY
 
Renowned political experts have said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) desire to return to the National Assembly was reflective of its "flawed decision-making" and noted that the party did not think through the political implications of its decision to quit the House en masse in April last year.

The experts said that abandoning the assembly right after the successful execution of the vote of no-confidence against the then-premier Imran Khan indicates that the party’s decision-making process was flawed, and immaturity and stubbornness put the whole system at risk.

“The PTI’s desire to go back to the assembly indicates that the party leadership did not think through at the time of resigning en masse from the assembly,” Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob said.

The PILDAT chief said that the PTI envisaged in April last year that en masse resignation will lead to a crisis and the federal government would be forced to announce elections but that turned out to be an incorrect decision.

Now, Mehboob said, the PTI chief was thinking to go back to parliament as the interim government is formed through a consensus of the government and opposition before the elections and the PTI has realised that it will not have a say in the formation of the caretaker set-up and the same would be proved to be detrimental for the party in the next general elections.

Mehboob, being the political and constitutional expert, said that the PTI has realised that it should try to get back all the key positions, including the office of the opposition leader and the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and bring itself into a position where it will have a say in the making of the caretaker set-up.

Otherwise, he said, the realisation is that everything will be lost.

By abandoning NA, Mehboob said, PTI not only lost a forum where it had the opportunity to express its opinion and convey its stance to the masses but left the field open for the government. At the time of its resignation from the assembly, he said, all these arguments were raised but rejected, saying “immaturity and stubbornness” prevailed over the opinion of the experienced party leaders.

“This proves that PTI’s decision-making is flawed and deficient,” Mehboob said.

Though the issue of the appointment of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s chairman has suddenly surfaced, Mehboob said, PTI has felt that it would not have a say in the appointment of the new accountability czar unless it goes back to the assembly, especially when Imran in being summoned by NAB.

Earlier, the PTI kept saying that it would not go back to the assembly but now the party even challenged the NA speaker’s decision of accepting PTI MNAs’ resignations before the Lahore High Court (LHC) so that they could go back to the assembly and have a say in the caretaker setup.

Eminent scholar Professor Dr Hassan Askari said that one reason for PTI to go back to the assembly is that it will face severe loss as the incumbent leader of the opposition in the NA, Raja Riaz, happens to be a disgruntled PTI member and might contest the next elections on a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket.

“The PTI wants to take back the office of the opposition leader from Raja Riaz,” the professor said, saying the PTI has been trying to return to parliament in an effort to take back all key positions meant for a major opposition party. He said that the party now wants to have a say in the NAB chief’s appointment too.

“The PTI’s decision to resign en masse shows that there was no long-term thinking,” the professor said, adding that “it was a knee-jerk reaction; political implications were not carefully gauged back then; and the focus was on only on the short-term objectives”.

Reiterating that things were not considered carefully, Professor Askari said that “the whole system was put at risk for immediate political gains. He feared that system cannot survive for long this way, saying currently the country did not have a normal functioning system. It was advantageous for PTI to stay in the assembly, he said, but the notion was rejected at that time.

Professor Askari blamed all the political parties for focusing on achieving short-term goals only, saying they never think beyond tactical gains. Contrary to its claims, he said, the incumbent government has failed to revive the economy as the whole focus was on arresting PTI chief Imran and other opponents.

To a question about elections bringing stability in the country, Professor Askari said that elections provide a margin to bring stability, but it depends on the upcoming government if it can do something in a year or so or not otherwise things would go back to square one.

“Elections give an advantage, but it is up to the government if it can capitalise on the situation or not,” the professor said.
 
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