LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf submitted resignations of 28 of its 30 members of the Punjab assembly here on Wednesday.

The resignations, received and counted by assembly secretary Rai Mumtaz Husain Babar in the absence of Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal, were handed over by Leader of Opposition in the House Mian Mahmoodur Rashid.

Six MPAs accompanied Mr Rashid who told reporters that the remaining two resignations would be submitted on Thursday.

The PTI had indicated using the option of resignations around two months ago as a measure to step up pressure on the PML-N government.

PTI indicated using the option of resignation around two months ago to step up pressure on the government

Most of its MNAs submitted their resignations last Friday.

Mr Rashid said PTI legislators in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would also resign by Sunday.

He clarified that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly would not be dissolved as was being feared by the PTI’s allies and rivals in the province.

Replying to a question, he said only the party leadership could reverse the decision.

He said no-one should think that the system would continue to work minus the PTI. “The system will go with us and no progress will be made on any issue until resignations of the rulers.”

Asked how the PTI would ensure a new, just system after the wrapping up of the present system when the Constitution did not allow a change by force, he said the Constitution was not a divine document that could not be altered.

Asked who would make the changes if parliament would not be there as the PTI was seeking dissolution of the elected houses, he said the Supreme Court could come up with a solution to the complicated situation.

All elections in the past were stolen because of “puppet” Election Commission, he alleged, adding that Imran Khan was the first political leader who had stood up against rigging.

“We will not rest until we take this issue to a logical conclusion. We will not rest until we unmask those who rigged these elections and bring them before a court and get them convicted.”

He said the Sharif brothers had ruled Punjab for over 23 years and in all these years had failed to provide clean drinking water to people.

Mr Rashid said only 20 per cent of development funds had been released for south Punjab and almost nothing was allocated for health and education in the region.

He said the province had recorded a 110pc increase in crime rate.

“The most visible proof of lawlessness is that even after two months the FIR of the Model Town incident has not been registered despite court orders.”

He said 200 cars, 600 motorbikes and 4,000 mobile phone sets were being snatched daily and there was no check on the crime.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2014