PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Thursday said the PTI government in the province had no threat from anyone, including the opposition, and that the provincial assembly would will not be dissolved.

Talking to reporters in Islamabad, the chief minister said after filing no-confidence motion, the opposition didn’t requisite the session of the provincial assembly as it lacked majority.

He said the government would convene the assembly shortly to prove that the majority of lawmakers stood by it. Khattak said neither PTI nor the provincial assembly had any forward bloc in respect of his coalition government.

According to a handout issued here, Khattak said there would be a difference of opinion but none of the ruling party legislators would revolt.

He said three Members of the National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had not tendered resignations but on the very next day, they had submitted them with the party leadership along with reasonable explanation.

The chief minister said all members of the provincial assembly had been elected on merit and that if there was any allegation of election rigging, then his government would prefer re-election to its protection.

He said the government, which came to power through rigged polls, couldn’t serve the people and that they would compromise public interest time and again.

Regarding the wrongdoings of the past governments, Khattak said cleansing of the dirt of the previous governments would take time.

He said his government was rooting out all ills of governance, including corruption, and that PTI was implementing its manifesto in letter and spirit.

The chief minister said his government was confident of its success as it would not take rest until the system was changed, which was the top need of the poor people. He said the PTI-led coalition government was taking steps in the people’s interests.

Khattak said his government had zero tolerance against rigging and that if there was any allegation of electoral rigging in he province, then his government would take no time in ordering re-election.

He said besides having constitutional protection, the provincial government was also strong and stable enough and had no threat from anyone, including the opposition.

Meanwhile, the chief minister expressed sorrow over five deaths in Nowshera accident.

The accident occurred after a passenger coach rammed into a truck on GT Road near Nowshera cantonment area killing five people and injuring many.

The chief minister sympathised with the aggrieved families over the accident and asked the local administration and highway police to ensure proper remedial measures for checking such fatal traffic accidents in future effectively. He directed local and hospital administrations to focus attention on the excellent treatment of the injured.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2014