PESHAWAR, Oct 8: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani advised Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai on Monday to dissolve the provincial assembly, soon after Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan had accepted his demand and tendered his resignation.

Later, Mr Durrani vacated his official residence and moved to his newly-built bungalow in the posh Hayatabad Township.

“Under Article 112(1) of the Constitution, I (chief minister) advised the governor to dissolve the NWFP assembly immediately,” Mr Durrani told journalists in his chamber, an hour after the speaker’s ruling that the governor should fulfil his constitutional obligation by advising the leader of the house to seek a fresh vote of confidence.

“Under the Constitution, I can stay as the chief minister for 48 hours after having advised the governor to dissolve the assembly. But, being a committed worker of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, I am immediately leaving my office,” Mr Durrani said.

The speaker sent his resignation to the governor after presiding over the last session of the assembly, spoiling the JUI-F’s plan to move a no-confidence motion against him. The atmosphere was tense when the assembly started its proceedings in the morning. Bigwigs of the JUI (F) were seen sitting in the chief minister’s gallery and JI leaders in the speaker’s gallery.In his speech in the house, Mr Durrani did not name the Jamaat-i-Islami, but severely criticised his major ally in the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for resigning from the assembly and leaving this party in the lurch.

“These opportunists enjoyed the comforts of being in the ruling party, but at a time when their help was needed to tide over a difficult situation they tried to isolate me. But I thank my party colleagues who reposed unshakable confidence in me and enabled me to overcome the crisis,” he said.

And a party insider said: “Durrani in a meeting with his aides even threatened to make public cases of financial corruption against the speaker if he did not step down”.

In the assembly, several JUI (F) ministers and lawmakers lashed out at the speaker and said he did not deserve to chair the proceedings. The attack angered Mr. Jehan and he left his seat and staged a walkout.

Speaking on a point of order, Israrullah Gandapur of the PPP (Sherpao) fired the first shot at the chief minister by pointing out to the chair that Mr Durrani did not enjoy the confidence of the house after the resignation of 36 lawmakers.

He requested the speaker to advise the governor under Article 130 (5) to ask the leader of the house to get a vote of confidence.

Ikramullah Shahid of the JUI (Sami) and Wajihu Zaman of the PML (Q) supported Mr. Gandapur’s proposal. Accordingly, the speaker ruled that the governor should advise the chief minister to get a fresh vote of confidence.

Experts, however, said that the ruling was not binding on the governor. Earlier, the PML-Q, PPP (Sherpao) and other opposition parties withdrew the no-confidence resolution against the chief minister they had moved on Oct 1 in a bid to stop him from dissolving the assembly.

“We thank Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Akram Durrani for having informed the opposition at least four days ahead of the planned dissolution of the assembly,” remarked Nighat Orakzai of the PML (Q).