Governor refuses to sign summary to dissolve Punjab assembly

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Governor Baligh-ur-Rehman on Saturday refused to sign summary to dissolve provincial assembly.

Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman said that the dissolution of Punjab Assembly was an important responsibility and he did not want this to be done in haste. 

Speaking to media in Lahore on Saturday, he said he had time till tonight (Saturday) and steps would have to be taken to uphold the constitution. "I would take this decision with a heavy heart." he added. 

Mr Rehman said, “My prayer is that whatever decision is taken, it will be for the good of the country and the nation.” 

CM Parvez Elahi advises Governor to dissolve Punjab Assembly

On Thursday, Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi had signed a summary for dissolution of Punjab Assembly a day after he obtained the vote of confidence from the Punjab Assembly amid ruckus and opposition’s boycott following weeks of political turbulence in the province. The decision to dissolve the assembly had been taken at a meeting between the chief minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan held at Zaman Park, where senior party leaders were also present. 

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry said the Punjab CM had signed the summary asking the governor to dissolve the provincial assembly. The PTI leader said the advice had been sent to the Punjab governor. He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly would ill also be dissolved with the Punjab Assembly.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan had completed consultation with the party leadership and the Punjab Assembly and decided to dissolve Punjab Assembly.

Sources privy to the development said the PTI leadership had rejected the suggestion to delay dissolution of the provincial assembly till February and instead the assembly could be dissolved tonight.

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Previously, in the wee hours of Thursday, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi proved his majority in the provincial assembly, winning the much-hyped vote of confidence.

The vote of confidence in the provincial legislature concluded with the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) coalition gaining majority support, with the backing of 186 lawmakers, the minimum number needed to win the vote.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan chaired the session in which PTI leader and Member Punjab Assembly Mian Aslam Iqbal tabled a resolution expressing confidence in the Chief Minister.

As per details, 186 members of ruling coalition reposed confidence in leadership of Chief Minister while opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) boycotted the session.

Secretary Punjab Assembly briefed the members on the voting process. In the meantime, opposition staged a protest in the Punjab Assembly. The members of the joint opposition tore copies of the agenda.

Speaker Punjab Assembly Sibtain Khan ordered the closure of assembly doors. 

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Earlier, PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan said the federal government had turned blind in revenge politics and was violating the Constitution and law.

He said this at his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi and Member National Assembly Hussain Elahi who called on him at Zaman Park. Consultation was held on the ongoing political situation and vote of confidence.

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On the occasion, Imran Khan, while strongly condemning the torture of Farhan Khan by declaring him an Indian agent, asked what was his fault. "This is a question mark for the entire nation," he said.

The PTI chairman also condemned inclusion of Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s family in the no-fly list and said the federal government had turned blind in revenge politics.

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The PTI chairman went on to say that conspiracy of the federation in Punjab would fail, adding that the members of his party and Pakistan Muslim Leeague-Quaid (PML-Q) were united and the federal government would fail in its attempts.

Meanwhile, Parvez Elahi said he did not believe in politics of revenge, be it torture of Farhan Khan or any conspiracy of Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah.