President Arif Alvi has approved the appointment of PML-N loyalist Balighur Rehman as the new Punjab governor after a weeks-long deadlock with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the post.
After rejecting the summary twice, President Alvi approved the summary on the advice of the PM on Monday in accordance with Article 101(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی نےمحمد بلیغ الرحمٰن کی بطور گورنر پنجاب تعیناتی کی منظوری دے دی
صدر مملکت نے منظوری وزیر اعظم کی ایڈوائس پر آئین کے آرٹیکل 101 (1) کے تحت دی
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) May 30, 2022
The President maintained that Omar Sarfraz Cheema still held the office of Punjab governor as he had not okayed his removal. Although, Cheema was de-notified by the federal government earlier this month.
Read more: Omar Cheema says he’s still Punjab Governor
Currently, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) is hearing the case on whether the President has the constitutional power to domineer the PM’s decision to remove a governor.
But, this move by President Alvi might make those proceedings redundant.
Rehman was elected to the National Assembly in 2013 and has previously served as the federal education minister.
On May 9, his predecessor Omar Sarfraz Cheema was removed from office despite the President’s resistance.
Cheema had been appointed as the governor on April 3, just before former PM Imran Khan’s government was ousted through a no-trust vote.
Cheema had repeatedly refused to administer Hamza Shehbaz’s oath as CM Punjab during his short tenure.
Therefore, on April 17, PM Shehbaz Sharif sent a summary for Cheema’s removal to the President. But Cheema maintained that the PM did not have the authority; only the President could dismiss him.
Read more: PML-N govt & President clash over Punjab governor
In the summary, PM Shehbaz Sharif recommended PPP’s Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood for the Punjab governor post. But, President Alvi had returned that summary after holding it for 15 days without a decision.
The PM re-endorsed the advice on May 1, asking for Cheema’s removal and Balighur Rehman’s appointment from Bahawalpur in his place.
Subsequently, the federal government on May 9 notified that Cheema had ceased to hold office on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Cheema has challenged his removal at the IHC; the next hearing is on May 31.