Pakistan Reader# 514, 13 January 2023
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
On 12 January, Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi signed a summary advising the Governor to dissolve the provincial assembly. In a signed letter to the Governor, he said, “I, Parvez Elahi Chief Minister Punjab, hereby advise you to dissolve the provincial assembly of Punjab.” Meanwhile, Punjab Governor Baligh Ur Rehman confirmed that he has received the summary, saying that dissolving the assembly would not be an easy decision to take, one he would undertake “with a heavy heart.”
This development comes after CM Elahi managed to secure the votes during a no-confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly. He received 186 votes, the exact number required to retain his office. However, the session was boycotted by the opposition who claimed that the vote was “bulldozed” and “unconstitutional.”
Constitutional law on the dissolution process
According to the Constitution, the provincial assembly would stand dissolved within 48 hours from the chief minister’s advice even if the governor did not sign the summary.
PTI confirms CM Elahi’s decision
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry confirmed that CM Elahi had signed the summary for assembly dissolution. He also thanked the PML-Q leaders Moonis and Hussain Elahi for supporting the PTI. He said that the country was headed towards general elections, adding that the PTI and Imran had “fulfilled their promise.”
Similarly, PTI leader Asad Umar said, “There is no definitive number of the seats PML-Q is asking for. In fact, they just said they would be discussing the seat adjustment after the dissolution has taken place. They don’t want to give an impression they are trying to blackmail us at this point in time.”
Further, he added that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would also be dissolved in line with the party’s “promise” to the people of leaving the legislative, adding, “The KP Assembly will also be dissolved on a similar format a day after tomorrow and we have fulfilled our promise of going back to the people [for seeking support].”
References
“CM Elahi signs summary for dissolving Punjab Assembly,” Dawn, 12 January 2023
Amjad Mahmood, “Elahi retains confidence in chaotic session,” Dawn, 12 January 2023
Faizan Bangash & Sher Ali Khalti, “Elahi signs summary for PA dissolution: PTI sets sights on Punjab interim set-up,” The News International, 13 January 2023
Mansoor Malik, “Elahi’s advice seals fate of provincial legislature,” Dawn, 13 January 2023
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