Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema has termed ex-chief minister Usman Buzdar’s resignation – typed and addressed to the then prime minister Imran Khan – as a real “fitna” (mischief) behind the constitutional crisis in Punjab.
He described the resulting oath-taking ceremony “after taking Governor House hostage” as illegal and unconstitutional. He said the prime minister’s son Hamza Shehbaz used the Punjab police and bureaucracy as his “bandit force”.
“Buzdar’s denotification as chief minister and Hamza’s notification as chief minister are unlawful,” he asserted.
The governor also presented video clips of senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan as well as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senior leaders Rana Sanaullah, Khwaja Saad Rafique and Ayaz Sadiq, wherein they called the resignation of Buzdar illegal.
Speaking at a presser on Sunday, the governor challenged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to present his legal team and hold a live debate on the legitimacy of Buzdar’s resignation on national TV. As per constitutional rulings, he said, the chief minister was bound to write a letter in his own handwriting, sign and address to the Punjab governor. He said he had challenged the premier as he had entered the constitutional debate by requesting the president to remove the governor.
