PESHAWAR, Oct 10: NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai dissolved the provincial assembly on the advice of former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani on Wednesday.

“Exercising his powers under Article 122 (1) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Governor of NWFP Lt-Gen (retd) Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai has dissolved forthwith the provincial assembly of the NWFP as advised by Akram Khan Durrani, Chief Minister of the NWFP, on Oct 10, 2007,” stated a notification issued here.

Mr Durrani, who lost the confidence of his allies in the 124-member house after en masse resignations by the Jamaat-i-Islami, Awami National Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) MPAs, had advised the governor on Tuesday to dissolve the assembly.

Later, the governor appointed Shamsul Mulk, a former chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority, as caretaker chief minister. Mr Mulk, a seasoned bureaucrat, was member of the NWFP cabinet from October 1999 to 2002. He hails from Badrashi village of Nowshera and has been a diehard supporter of Kalabagh dam. His name was not among those being mentioned in speculations on the appointment.

He will take oath on Thursday. A small cabinet will also take oath in a couple days.

None of the political parties has opposed the appointment.

PPI adds: According to sources in the Governor’s House, federal Minister Amir Muqam and other leaders of the PML-Q held a detailed meeting with Mr Aurakzai and discussed various names for the caretaker chief minister and cabinet.