PESHAWAR: Following the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly on Saturday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan also promised to dissolve the KP provincial assembly, saying a summary to this effect would be sent to KP Governor Ghulam Ali on Tuesday.

“According to the orders [issued] from leader Imran Khan, a summary for dissolution of the KP assembly will be sent to the governor on Tuesday [tomorrow],” the chief minister said in a tweet.

The announcement came after an online meeting between the PTI chairman and the provincial cabinet at the Chief Minister’s House. It was also attended by former governor Shah Farman as well.

The KP CM said that the country was moving towards general elections and claimed that the PTI would sweep the upcoming elections. “God willing, PTI will come back in the government with a two-thirds majority,” the KP chief minister tweeted.

According to a statement issued by the CM’s House, the chief minister said that Imran Khan was a “true leader” and PTI was “one of the most popular political parties in the country”. “Imran Khan has sacrificed his government [in Punjab] for the sake of the country and God willing he will be the prime minister of the country very soon,” the statement quoted CM Mahmood Khan as saying. He added that the “journey of development will be completed” under the leadership of Imran Khan.

PTI to come back with two-thirds majority, Mahmood says

Following speculations regarding the possible dissolution of the provincial assembly on Saturday, the KP CM rebutted statements attributed to him and said that the decision would be taken following a ‘green signal’ from the party chief. “I would not hesitate to dissolve the provincial assembly as and when directed by the party chief,” Mr Khan had said. He stated that people should not give attention to rumors and added that the moment he would move the summary for the dissolution of the KP assembly, he would share it with media persons on WhatsApp.

A day earlier, the CM mocked those who claimed he was in Lahore to meet Imran Khan for consultations. “What is there to consult? How can I say ‘no’ to Imran Khan?” he asked. “The moment I get a nod from Imran Khan, the provincial assembly will cease to exist.” Cabinet insiders said they were still hoping the party chairman would heed their suggestion to keep the KP government intact. “It is up to him now to take the final call,” a cabinet member had said.

Earlier this week, KP government spokesman Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, said that legally, it took at least 48 hours for any assembly to be dissolved after a summary was signed and sent to the governor.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2023