Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari’s ruling handed PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz the seat of chief minister Punjab in a run-off vote has outraged the nation. Citizens across the country took to the streets to protest against Dost Mazari’s ruling.
Following PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for protest, PTI workers organized protests in eight cities: Liberty Chowk, Lahore; Hashtnagri Chowk Peshawar; F9 Park, Islamabad; Nursery, Karachi; Ghanta Ghar Chowk, Faisalabad; Chungi No 9, Multan; Traffic Chowk, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Fawarrah Chowk Bahawalpur.
In addition, according to news reports, people also came out to protest against Dost Mazari at Mannan Chowk, Quetta; Haider Chowk, Hyderabad; Chowk Yadgar, Shiekhupura, Indus Highway, Karak, and Sialkot.
Read more: Hamza Shehbaz re-elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab
In Hyderabad, PTI workers gathered around a PPP worker’s vehicle which led to the confrontation. Both, PPP and PTI workers came face to face which caused tension in the area, however, police dispersed the workers and put security on high alert.
Nationwide protests happening now across Pakistan, in response to the illegal and unconstitutional ruling of the Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly. Corrupt leaders of an imported regime desperately clinging on to power have been rejected by the people. #آج_سازش_نہیں_چلے_گی pic.twitter.com/byLr7yMemR
— PTI USA Official (@PTIOfficialUSA) July 22, 2022
PML-Q betrayed by party head
In a shocking outcome of events, the PML-N on Friday won a dramatic victory against the PTI that very few had predicted in the Punjab chief minister’s election. PTI was set for victory as its candidate for Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi received 186 votes (PTI and PML-Q votes combined) whereas PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz received 179 votes.
At the last moment, Dost Mazari received a letter from PML-Q head Chaudhry Shujaat instructing his MPAs to vote for PML-N’s candidate. As a result, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari ruled that PML-Q members’ votes were not counted in light of the party head’s letter, consequently making Hamza Shehbaz the Chief Minister.
Read more: Video: Pervaiz Ilahi says Zardari plan doomed to fail
Ch. Shujaat’s letter came as a massive blow to both PTI and PML-Q. Later, PML-Q workers staged a protest against the party president Shujaat Hussain over his decision to not vote for Pervaiz Elahi.
They expressed outrage that the workers cast vote to elect PML-Q lawmakers but the top leader bowed his head before someone else. They alleged that he sold his conscience to get the short-term rulership.