PTI dissolves Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly
PESHAWAR : The party of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday dissolved a provincial assembly in the country’s northwest, where it held majority seats.
Pakistan Tehrik-e-insaf (PTI)’S rival, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz (PML-N) party, criticised the move, saying it meant to deepen the political crisis and force early parliamentary elections.
As opposition leader, Imran has been campaigning for early elections and has claimed-without providing evidence - that his ouster last April in a no-confidence vote in Parliament was illegal.
He has also accused his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Pakistani military and the United States of orchestrating his ouster. Shahbaz, army officials and Washington have all dismissed the allegations.
Imran has also banked on his popularity and wide grassroot support to force early elections, and has since his ouster staged rallies across the country, calling for the vote. But Shahbaz and his PML-N have repeatedly dismissed the demands, saying elections will be held as scheduled - later in 2023 - when the current parliament completes its five-year term.
On Wednesday, KP Governor Ghulam Ali dissolved the local assembly there, just days ater another Imran ally, chief minister Pervez Elahi, dissolved the assembly in Punjab assembly.
Imran Khan’s PTI was in power in both provinces. The dissolution of the chambers will lead to snap elections in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab - and may lead to the party being reelected in both provinces - but will unlikely effect any change on the national level.
Shahbaz’s government maintains that the tactics of the 70-year-old Imran Khan are damaging the country’s economy. Pakistan has struggled with the atermath of unprecedented floods that devastated the country last summer and which experts say were exacerbated by climate change. Cash-strapped Pakistan is also facing a serious financial crisis and unabating militant violence.
Imran Khan, a former cricket star turned Islamist politician, was wounded in a gun atack while leading a rally toward the capital, Islamabad, last November. One of Imran Khan’s supporters was killed and several others were wounded in the shooting. Imran accused Shahbaz’s government of being behind the atack; authorities have denied the allegation. The gunman was arrested on the scene.