CM Mahmood Khan announces dissolving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly today

This photograph taken on August 13, 2018 shows Pakistani legislators taking oath during a session of the provincial assembly after the July 25 general election, in Peshawar. (AFP/File)
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Updated 14 January 2023
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CM Mahmood Khan announces dissolving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly today

  • Development comes days after Punjab CM moved summary to dissolve provincial assembly
  • The dissolution of Punjab, KP assemblies is part of PTI's efforts to force countrywide elections

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has announced that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party would dissolve the provincial legislature today, local media reported on Saturday, days after Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi moved a summary to dissolve the provincial assembly. 

The move to dissolve the provincial legislatures is part of the efforts by former premier Imran Khan, who heads the PTI, to force the government into announcing snap elections in the South Asian country. 

Imran, who was ousted from power in a parliamentary no-trust vote in April, blames his removal from office on a United States-backed "foreign conspiracy." Washington and Imran's opponents deny the allegation. The PTI and allies were in power in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. 

CM Khan prepared on Friday a summary for the dissolution of the KP provincial assembly and announced his decision an at even in Peshawar today, Pakistan's Geo News channel reported. 

"When the summary of the dissolution of the KP assembly would be sent to Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, its copies would also be shared with the journalists," he was quoted as saying in the report. 

"We will start again from zero." 

On Friday, PTI's KP chapter president Pervez Khattak said the provincial legislature would be dissolved, instructing party workers to start making preparations for the next election. 

The Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government has previously said that it would hold elections in case the opposition PTI party dissolves the two provincial assemblies. 

However, the center maintains that countrywide polls will be held in the latter of half this year as per schedule. 


Pakistan’s Agha weighs future after poor T20 World Cup campaign 

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Pakistan’s Agha weighs future after poor T20 World Cup campaign 

  • Pakistan suffered defeats at hands of heavyeights England, arch-rivals India in the tournament
  • Pakistan’s middle order often did not click while spinners could not exploit turning conditions

Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya said he ‌will step down as head coach, while Pakistan’s Salman Agha said he will take time to decide whether to remain captain after both ​teams’ poor campaigns at the Twenty20 World Cup.

Tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka made the Super Eights but the 2014 champion lost all three matches to finish at the bottom of Group Two.

“I thought it was time to give it (the job) to someone else,” Jayasuriya said after their narrow defeat to Pakistan on Saturday.

“That’s why about two months ago I’d ‌said during ‌the England series that I don’t ​have ‌hopes ⁠of staying ​in ⁠the job for long. I’d taken this decision by then.

“I thought I’d be able to leave as coach on a good note in the World Cup. I wasn’t able to do that as well as I’d like, and I’m sad about that.”

The former captain, whose contract runs until June, said he ⁠was yet to convey his decision to Sri ‌Lanka Cricket.

“I haven’t given SLC ‌any news officially yet. They don’t ​know that I am going ‌to say this even. I will need to go and ‌discuss with them.”

It was an underwhelming tournament for Pakistan as well that included a comprehensive defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India in a group match.

Pakistan’s middle order often did not click, while ‌their slow bowlers could not make the most of the spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka ⁠where they ⁠played all their matches.

“We have underperformed in the whole tournament,” captain Agha told reporters.

“We are out of the semis due to our failure in decision-making in pressure situations.”

Agha said he and head coach Mike Hesson took full responsibility for their poor performance in a global multi-team event.

He was unhappy with his own form but said he was not in a hurry to take a call on whether to stay as Pakistan’s white-ball captain.

“I will go back and take ​some time to decide,” the ​32-year-old said.

“Because at this point of time stepping down would be an emotional decision.”