Fawad says PTI leadership has ratified Imran's decision to dissolve KP, Punjab assemblies

Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday that the party leadership has ratified Chairman Imran Khan's decision to dissolve Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies, Aaj News reported.

Addressing media outside Imran Khan's Zaman Park residence in Lahore, where the PTI leadership held its meeting, Fawad said it was decided that PTI will no longer be part of the assemblies, adding that both legislative assemblies will be dissolved by next week.

He said Imran will meet KP Chief Minister later tonight, and Punjab Chief Minister on Tuesday to take them into confidence regarding the decision.

He noted that PTI MPAs in Sindh and Balochistan assemblies will also submit their resignation and their MNAs will approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for confirmation of their resignations.

"PTI will submit 567 resignations in total across assemblies," Fawad said, adding that this will force the ECP to hold elections in these provinces within 90 days as per the Constitution.

Fawad said that the opposition, in the provinces, will also be invited to put forward their names for a caretaker government.

Fawad’s presser comes after the PTI chief announced in the Rawalpindi gathering on Saturday that his party would quit all the assemblies.

“We will not be part of this country’s political system. We have decided to quit all assemblies,” the former premier said while addressing the party workers and supporters.

"My party has not come to Rawalpindi for elections or politics. It is the need of the country to have fresh elections."

Responding to his decision, Chief Minister Punjab Pervez Elahi said on Sunday that he "would not hesitate for a minute" if asked to dissolve the provincial assembly.

In a video message released on Twitter, Elahi said his government was made on Imran Khan's mandate and he would oblige his decision regarding dissolution of the assembly.