PTI changes its mind on timing of Elahi's trust vote in PA.

LAHORE -- Changing his mind, former prime minister Imran Khan has now agreed to put off the trust vote - to be taken by Chief Minister Parvez Elahi - until a court decision on the governor's order seeking a vote of confidence in the Punjab Assembly.

The decision taken by Mr Khan on Saturday came in contrast to his earlier claims, wherein he along with party stalwart Fawad Chaudhry insisted that a vote of confidence must be held before the Jan 11 hearing at the Lahore High Court.

In a bid to convince Mr Elahi, the PTI chairman had also sent a delegation to the chief minister's residence on Dec 24, but PML-Q leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi had urged the PTI chief to wait for the court order.

Similarly, the Punjab CM, while publically contesting Imran Khan's stance, stated that the governor's order was in contravention of the law and Constitution and that taking a vote of confidence would actually validate the said order.

The statement had irked the former premier, who retorted that he would ask his party MPAs to resign en masse in case hurdles were created in the dissolution of the assembly.

'Insane advice'

In a consultative meeting with the Punjab ministers at his Zaman Park residence on Saturday, the former prime minister discussed the political situation and apparently reached the conclusion that his advisors were not offering him 'sane advice' about the trust vote. It was agreed that the Jan 9 session of the assembly would not have the trust vote on its agenda.

Sources said Mr Khan was told that Jan 11 was also not 'decision day', but rather the beginning of the hearing on the petition challenging the trust vote and the removal of CM Elahi from office.

Sources disclosed that Mr Khan was infuriated that he was forced to retract his statements, but he also agreed...