Imran Khan has finally announced the date of the dissolution of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assemblies where his party is in power. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman, addressing party workers via video link at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk, said that the assemblies would be dissolved on Friday.
Imran has announced his decision almost three weeks ago, while saying earlier in the week that he would give the final date at Saturday’s events.
Prior to the announcement, there was a flurry of activity from both PTI and PDM today. Here are the major political developments that you need to know.
Imran Khan addressed a gathering of party workers and supporters at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk today. During the address, Imran announced the date for the dissolution of assemblies.
He also criticised General retired Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying the recently-retired army chief was responsible for his ouster as premier as part of an external conspiracy.
He repeated claims of the country teetering on the brink of default and rampant inflation. He claimed that it was resulted in a massive brain drain with things becoming stagnant in the country on the development front.
Imran also lashed out at his rivals, including the incumbent PDM-led government, sayign corruption was widespread while the anti-corruption watchdog NAB was being used as a political tool.
The jalsa was not his only political activity today. Imran Khan also met Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and his son Moonis, who apprised him on the latest developments from their side.
Since Imran Khan’s big announcement, the Chaudhrys have publicly put their weight behind him, even saying that the assembly will be dissolved at ‘Imran’s will’. However, reports have suggested that behind closed doors, the elder chaudhry’s enthusiasm about dissolving assemblies (at least immediately) is lukewarm at best.
However, a new story emerged from PML-Q’s huddle with Imran Khan on Saturday afternoon. According to reports, PML-Q advised Imran Khan to delay dissolution of assemblies till the end of February. However, they reiterated that Imran Khan’s decision will be accepted.
As Punjab becomes the center stage for national politics, Shehbaz Sharif ensured he will not be far from the spot of action.
The PM chaired a meeting of senior PML-N leaders in Model Town, Lahore, where it was decided that a no-confidence motion will be tabled against CM Pervaiz Elahi.
The party has already secured signatures from its members in the Punjab Assembly, and the motion will be filed right after approval from the higher leadership.
PML-N has also decided that there will be no dialogue with PTI. Even if assemblies are dissovled, the party will just move to plan B and then to plan C.
Not all developments related to Lahore’s action took place in Rawalpindi. The garrison city isn’t far from the provincial capital, at least for the Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi who flew in and out on Friday.
Reports said that the CM went to Rawalpindi to meet ‘an important personality’ and immediately met his party leadership upon return.
Whether the details of this meeting come up in the Elahis’ meeting with Imran Khan is worth keeping an eye on.
All is not well within the Punjab government either.
Hasnain Bahadar Dreshak, a PTI MPA and minister for livestock quit the provincial government after an altercation with Pervaiz Elahi on Friday.
Reports said that multiple ministers tried to speak in the cabinet meeting simultaneously. Even after CM Pervaiz Elahi tried to restore order, Dreshak insisted on having his say.
When the CM said he wanted ‘discipline’, Dreshak said he could just quit. “Who is stopping you?” The CM retorted, upon which the minister walked out and sent in his resignation.
