The Punjab Assembly was dissolved after governor Baligh Ur Rehman refused to sign the dissolution summary.
The assembly dissolves within 48 hours regardless of the Governor’s decision after Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi forwarded the summary of dissolution on Thursday.
Rehman, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), abstained from dissolution and let the Constitution take its course.
In a Twitter message, the Governor stated, “I have decided not to become part of the process leading to the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. I would rather let the Constitution and law take their own course. Doing so will not hamper any legal process as Constitution clearly provides a way forward,”
Last November, Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan declared the dissolution of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies. However, consultations with allies and center-ruling allies’ countermeasures delayed the program.
Fawad Chaudhry, PTI Senior Vice Chairman, said the Governor had “This is not the first time that you have trampled on democratic decisions to appease your undemocratic masters; your decisions have been against the dignity of your office. However, 48 hours have passed, and the Punjab Assembly has been dissolved under the Constitution. So ‘PeeDM’ will now face off in the field.”
