It seems that Punjab may see another in-house change in the coming days as the PDM alliance is working to remove Chief Minister Parvez Elahi from power, the media reported.
According to the details, PDM has allegedly contacted PTI and PML-Q lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly to persuade them to move against Parvez Elahi. Moreover, sources claimed that the PDM has the numbers required to easily oust Parvez Elahi.
To clarify, the Punjab Assembly has a total of 371 members and the figure of simple majority stands at 186. After the PTI victory in this year’s Punjab by polls, PTI and PML-Q strength in the Punjab Assembly had reached 188. Nevertheless, it is being claimed that PDM has the required numbers.
Read more: Hamza urges SC to review Parvez Elahi’s election as Punjab CM
Furthermore, PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz – who was competing against Parvez Elahi for the Punjab Chief Minister seat – has taken into confidence PML-N supremo and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the matter during his recent visit to London. Similarly, PPP Co-Chairman and former President Asif Ali Zardari, along with PML-Q President and former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, also agreed.
پی ڈی ایم رہنماؤں کا چوہدری پرویز الہیٰ کو وزارت اعلیٰ سے ہٹانے کا فیصلہ ، چوہدری شجاعت حسین بھی متفق
آصف زرداری بھی متحرک ہو گئےstory by @HassanAyub82
— Muqadas Farooq Awan (@muqadasawann) September 5, 2022
Pertinent to mention that there has been no indication of an in-house change in Punjab from PDM, however, sources claimed that things might change for Parvez Elahi in the coming days. It remains to be seen whether the PTI and PML-Q leaders will either resign or bring a no-confidence motion against Parvez Elahi.
Punjab Chief Minister election
Even though the previous Punjab CM election was marked with controversies, it seems that Hamza Shehbaz is refusing to give. He was announced the Chief Minister of Punjab twice before Parvez Elahi.
To clarify, Hamza was first elected as the Punjab CM on April 16. PTI then disqualified its MPAs who voted for Hamza in the CM election, leaving 20 seats vacant, resulting in Punjab by-polls where PTI won 15 seats out of the 20, dealing a major blow to the PML-N, who only clinched four.
However, on the counting of the votes, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari rejected 10 votes of PML-Q after PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat sent a letter directing party lawmakers to vote for PML-N candidate Hamza Shehbaz, effectively going against his brother and PTI candidate Parvez Elahi who had more votes than Hamza. As a result, Hamza Shehbaz retained his seat as the Punjab CM.
Read more: Hamza urges SC to review Parvez Elahi’s election as Punjab CM
Soon after, Parvez Elahi challenged the controversial ruling of the deputy speaker. The Supreme Court declared Parvez Elahi the Chief Minister of Punjab, striking down the deputy speaker’s ruling on the election which made PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz lose his status.