Special Assistant to Prime Minister Malik Ahmad Khan says that if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers resign from the Punjab assembly it will not affect the government in Punjab and the system will continue working in the same manner as in the case of the federal government.

“The Punjab assembly will continue working like the federal government is working after the PTI left the National Assembly,” the SAPM said speaking exclusively on Aaj News programme ‘Faisla Aap Ka’ with host Asma Shirazi.

He was referring to the PTI’s move in April this year when it left the assembly after the then prime minister, PTI chief Imran Khan, was ousted from power.

The PTI chief during a public gathering in Rawalpindi on Saturday announced en masse resignations from provincial assemblies.

Earlier today, the PTI leaders during a party meeting had endorsed Imran Khan’s decision to dissolve both KP and Punjab assemblies.

Responding to a question regarding the possibility of imposing governor rule in KP and Punjab provinces, Malik Ahmed said that he could not give any opinion in this regard as it would be seen under which circumstances the constitution allows to impose the governor rule.

Speaking on the program, PTI leader Ahmed Owais said that in fact the coalition government was running away from the general elections, and the reason for this was the popularity of Imran Khan.

“They fear that if early elections are held as a result of the dissolution of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, the PTI will likely be in power in October.”

Responding to a question regarding the possibilities of general election following the PTI’s move, Mazhar Abbas, a senior analyst, said that if the assemblies were dissolved then there would be no option other than holding elections, but in case of en masse resignation, the government would somehow manage it. “It [Punjab government] will continue working as we have seen in such a case in the National Assembly.”

He said that if the assemblies were dissolved, it would not be possible to hold general elections on 550 seats. “This pressure may lead to general elections.”

If PTI decided to quit from all provincial assemblies then the PTI’s governments in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will also come to an end.

Earlier in the day, the PML-N in a meeting of the parliamentary party decided to do everything to ensure that assemblies complete their terms.

“The governor has the constitutional authority to ask the chief minister to take a vote of confidence,” the PML-N leader Ataullah Tarar said in a press conference after the parliamentary party’s meeting.

A day earlier, interior minister Rana Sanaullah also said that PML-N would bring a motion in Punjab and KP assemblies after which both provincial governments would not be able to dissolve their respective assemblies.

Sanaullah had said the PML-N was comfortable with its number game in the Punjab assembly, and would submit requisition after which dissolution of the assembly would become impossible. Same requisition would be submitted in the KP Assembly as well, he added.