Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema “rejected” the resignation of Usman Buzdar as the Chief Minister of Punjab. The unprecedented move comes hours before CM-elect Hamza Shehbaz’s oath-taking ceremony.
According to details, Omar Cheema wrote a letter to Punjab Speaker Pervaiz Elahi saying the resignation did not fulfill constitutional requirements. To clarify, Usman Buzdar addressed the March 28 resignation letter to the prime minister and not to the governor which was mandatory as per sub-section 8 of Article 130 of the Constitution.
Moreover, the governor also restored the provincial cabinet. As the Chief Minister, Usman Buzdar has summoned a cabinet meeting today.
Read more: Usman Buzdar best performing CM: Survey
“The resignation was not addressed to the governor which was unconstitutional and thus rejected. Consequently, the provincial cabinet has been restored,” Cheema stated.
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar and his Cabinet restored by Governor Punjab Omar Cheema. Cabinet meeting called today. #MarchAgainstImportedGovt #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور
— Murad Raas (@MuradRaasMR) April 30, 2022
On March 28th, Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar had tendered his resignation. The move came after the then Opposition submitted the no-confidence motion against Usman Buzdar. A total of 126 lawmakers from the Opposition parties signed the no-confidence motion against Buzdar, said PML-N’s Rana Mashood.
Crisis deepens in Punjab?
Friday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to administer the oath to Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz at 11:30 am today.
The LHC decision came after Hamza Shehbaz moved the court for the third time. Both President Dr. Arif Alvi and Punjab Governor refused to administer the oath.
However, this now seems highly unlikely as Usman Buzdar is once again the Chief Minister of Punjab. According to speculations, Usman Buzdar will now dissolve the Punjab Assembly.
Read more: Twitter trolls PML-N for “electing” Hamza Shehbaz as Punjab Chief Minister
Leading journalist Mubasher Lucman said that informed sources told him Usman Buzdar may send a summary to the Punjab Governor to dissolve the Punjab Assembly.
“Should that happen, the crisis will aggravate even further and again courts will come in play,” Mubasher Lucman further added.
As per informed sources Usman Buzdaar may send a summary shortly to the Governor Punjab to dissolve the Provincial Assembly. Should that happen the crisis will aggravate even further and again courts will come in play.
— Mubasher Lucman (@mubasherlucman) April 30, 2022
Meanwhile, PTI had never accepted Hamza Shehbaz’s election as the Chief Minister in the first place. Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted in this regard.
“I strongly condemn the illegal occupation of Governor House Lahore. In this regard, the provincial administration has demanded immediate termination of the oath of Hamza Shahbaz for blatant violation of constitution and law so that matters do not become tense,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
گورنر ہاؤس لاہور پر غیر قانونی قبضے کی سخت مذمت کرتا ہوں صوبائ انتظامیہ نے اس ضمن میں آئین اور قانون کی صریحاً خلاف ورزی کی حمزہ شہباز کا حلف فوری ختم کیا جائے تاکہ معاملات کشیدہ نہ ہوں #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 30, 2022