Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has prepared a summary to dissolve the Punjab Assembly, a leading news channel reported quoting sources.
It said the CM House has developed the summary on Buzdar’s advice and he may sign the document if PM Imran Khan agrees to the suggestion.
It said that CM Buzdar is ready to resign if the prime minister asks him to do so.
The channel reported Buzdar as saying that he was with PM Imran for the public gathering in Kamalia, adding that the premier has taken Buzdar with him to Islamabad.
The development comes as PM Imran battles to face a no-confidence motion against him submitted by the opposition.
The opposition had submitted a no-confidence motion against PM Imran on March 8. The premier has been under pressure since then as many PTI lawmakers have indicated that they would back the opposition at the centre.
Moreover, many senior PTI leaders associated with the federal government are in favour of the removal of CM Buzdar.
The opposition has also shown its inclination to move against CM Buzdar after PM Imran’s removal.
On March 17, the opposition had contacted the Punjab Assembly secretariat to know the procedures to move a no-confidence motion against the chief minister.
Meanwhile, PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi had shared in a recent interview that the opposition has offered him the chief minister’s post in return for his party’s support in the no-confidence motion against PM Imran.
Interestingly, two disgruntled groups of PTI, Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan, have also demanded the removal of Buzdar.
Under Article 112(1) of the constitution, the governor has the authority to dissolve a provincial assembly on the advice of the chief minister.
“The Governor shall dissolve the Provincial Assembly if so advised by the Chief Minister; and the Provincial Assembly shall, unless sooner dissolved, stand dissolved at the expiration of forty-eight hours after the Chief Minister has so advised,” the article reads.
THE ASSEMBLY: At present, the PTI and its allies have 198 members in the Punjab Assembly. Of the 198 members, the PTI has 183 MPAs, the PML-Q 10, and four independent members.
On the other hand, the opposition has 173 MPAs. Of them, the PML-N has 165 MPAs, PPP seven, and one independent MPA.
Anyone who wishes to form the government needs to have the backing of at least 186 MPAs.
