In the aftermath of Chief Minister Punjab’s recent sacking spree, the province is gripped with the contest for the position of the new CM spokesperson. Media reports reveal that aspirants for thee positions are seen circling in and out of Bani Gala, and engaging in meetings with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen.
Multiple political analysts have come forward to question the sacking of competent individuals like Shahbaz Gill and Aun Chaudhry, who had defended CM Buzdar even in the most indefensible of circumstances. Opinion makers are now focused on who will become the new CM spokesperson in Punjab, while the reasons behind the sacking of such credible politicians still remains a subject of debate.
Dear PM @ImranKhanPTI sir Punjab needs people like @SHABAZGIL to represent the responsibility of the govt towards the people .Pti has Ministers who are not loyal to the country party or you sir . You need good people to represent the party ,and dr Gill was doing a good job.♥️🇵🇰
— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) September 15, 2019
Candidates for CM Spokesperson
Reports reveal that three PTI leaders are being considered for the position of the Chief Minister Punjab Spokesperson, including Shaukat Basra, Fayaz-ul Hassan Chauhan, and Usman Basra. Sources also reveal that the Punjab administration is currently reviewing whether appointing a spokesperson is necessary or not.
Usman Basra
Usman Basra is a politician who is currently serving as a representative of the Punjab government and the Information Secretary of the PTI in Punjab. A veteran lawyer, Usman Basra has enjoyed an extensive career as a political activist, and he has also served as the General Secretary of Punjab in 2013. He has been a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) since 2002 and is being considered as a strong candidate for the position of CM spokesperson.
Fayaz-ul Hassan Chauhan
Fayaz-ul Hassan Chauhan is currently serving as the Provisional Minister of Punjab of Colonies, after taking over the position from Sibtain Khan, who is facing corruption cases. Earlier, Chauhan was the Provincial Minister of Punjab for Information and Culture, however, he was forced to resign from the position in March, 219 after making derogatory remarks against Hindus.
Dr Shahbaz Gill removed as chief minister punjab spokesman in reshuffle https://t.co/49SlHTMtDa
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) September 13, 2019
In a tweet, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had stated, “PTI Punjab government has removed Fayyaz Chohan from the post of Punjab Information Minister following derogatory remarks about the Hindu community. Bashing someone’s faith should not be a part of any narrative. Tolerance is the first & foremost pillar on which #Pakistan was built.”
Shaukat Basra
Shaukat Basra is a senior PTI leader and Former Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Punjab Assembly. A lawyer by profession, Shaukat Basra is considered for his loyalty to the party, and political experience in Punjab.
Competent Politicians Sacked
Twitter is abuzz with stunned responses over the sacking of Dr. Shahbaz Gill, who many believe is a competent and credible politician, and incredibly loyal to PTI. The sacking of Aun Chaudhry, special advisor to CM Punjab, is another unusual occurrence.
Aun Chaudhry was once considered one of the closest amongst Prime Minister Khan’s trusted advisors in Islamabad. He was then dispatched to CM Usman Buzdar, and analysts believe that he had lost favor with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Read more: Is Usman Buzdar trying to be more Powerful?
Even though Dr. Shahbaz Gill resigned from his position, it quickly became evident that the resignation was tendered under pressure from CM Punjab and the federal government. Dr. Gill is a professor of South Asian Affairs and Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign. He was appointed to the position of CM Punjab Spokesperson by the Premier himself.
Sources reveal that Dr. Gill initially wanted to be appointed in the center, but the Prime Minister persuaded him that CM Punjab needs a competent and skillful PR team. Dr. Gill certainly did justice to his credentials and will be remembered for representing CM Buzdar positively despite the many blunders that have rocked the province since his appointment.