Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman has said that the assembly is a representative institution of the masses and it is hard for any democrat to dissolve it before the completion of its time.
Talking to the media here on Friday, he said the summary for the dissolution of the assembly had been received last night, and a decision had to be taken on it within two days, adding that after its approval, the assembly would stand dissolved.
The governor said that he had to determine the date of the elections. Elections have to be held in 90 days, and the holy month of Ramzan also falls during this period of time, he said adding that “If elections are held before Ramzan, there will be a very short period of time for the election.” A decision would be made after reviewing all related things, he added.
Read more: PML-N welcomes dissolution of Punjab Assembly
The governor said that the chief minister and the leader of the opposition had to be asked if they should first decide the issue of caretaker government together.
If they could not reach a consensus on it, then the next steps would be taken, he added.
Just hours after regaining the confidence of a majority of lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly, Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Thursday formally advised the governor to dissolve the provincial legislature.
The move caps weeks of speculation, legal wrangling and a public spectacle of the differences between the ruling allies in Punjab — the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and PML-Q — over whether the assembly would be disbanded or not.
“I, Parvez Elahi Chief Minister Punjab, hereby advise you to dissolve the provincial assembly of Punjab,” reads the signed advice sent to the governor.
However, over an hour later, a ‘genuine’ copy of the document (on the chief minister’s official letterhead) was shared by his son, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi from his Twitter handle with the caption: “Promise fulfilled,” and addressing PTI chief Imran Khan, he wished: “May we see you back in PM seat soon. InshaAllah.”
Read more: Punjab Assembly will be dissolved whenever Imran Khan wants: Moonis Elahi
Meanwhile, the Governor House received the Punjab Assembly dissolution advice in a sealed envelope shortly after 10pm, as was confirmed by the governor himself in a tweet.
Geo News quoted the governor as saying that dissolving the assembly, which was the representative body of millions of people, would not be an easy decision to take, one he would undertake “with a heavy heart”.