While Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leadership continues to reiterate their threat to dissolve the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assemblies, the delay in the actual dissolution of the assemblies could be causing harm to PTI’s narrative.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a press conference on Wednesday reiterated the party’s desire to dissolve the assemblies if fresh elections were not called. He also said that party chairman Imran Khan was desirous of bridging the ‘gulf created due to misunderstandings’ by taking ‘confidence-building measures’.
At the same time, he conveyed that Khan thought that fresh elections were the only way to move forward. “Seriousness to the cause demands immediate dissolution of the Punjab and KP assemblies,” he quoted Khan as saying.
“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,” said Qureshi, who mentioned that the party wants fresh elections to be held and a new government to be in power before Ramzan in March.
However, the delay comes from current Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), who is less keen on dissolving the assembly and wants to retain his government. Parvez Elahi has claimed that the Punjab Assembly would remain intact till April at least — going beyond the March deadline given by Khan.
As per a report by Dawn News, some within PTI feel as though Elahi is attempting to win over PTI lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly with larger funds and bigger portfolios. There is also apprehension regarding offers being made from the opposition, with rumors suggesting that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is offering Elahi the position of the Punjab Assembly speaker if he joins hands with them.
