The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is weighing its options to approach the Lahore High Court (LHC) regarding the oath of chief minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz after Punjab Governor Omar Cheema refused to administer oath.
The PML-N Punjab’s core committee held a meeting at party’s secretariat in Model Town on Monday to discuss the strategy in this respect.
The governor had stated that severe irregularities were found in the report submitted by Punjab Assembly secretary regarding the election process. “I’ll consult the advocate general and the Punjab Assembly speaker before administering oath to Hamza,” he said on Sunday.
The principal secretary to governor had also advised him to administer oath and warned that he may face contempt of court, but Cheema is still reluctant to fulfil his responsibilities.
The principal secretary had said that the report submitted by the Punjab Assembly secretary is politically motivated.
The federal government has also moved a summary for the removal of the Punjab governor to the President House but Dr. Arif Alvi hasn’t responded to it yet while advising Cheema to continue his office.
It seems that a constitutional crisis is looming in Punjab as the province is without any chief minister for the last many days.
“The people of Punjab are facing an extraordinary situation,” said PML-N leader Malik Ahmad Khan, who is also the spokesperson for Shehbaz Sharif.
Speaking to the media alongside party’s Deputy Secretary General Attaullah Tarar and MPA Sardar Awais Laghari, he said that the Article 130 of the constitution clearly states that the office of chief minister cannot remain vacant even for a day. “It is really unfortunate that Parvez Elahi is using delaying tactics for the oath of the CM-elect,” he said.
Malik Ahmad added that the speaker is the custodian of the house but what Elahi did was an act of blatant political partisanship. “An attempt is being made to derail the system but the PML-N is trying to protect it and that is why it is exercising restraint,” he added.
On late Sunday, CM-elect Hamza Shehbaz visited Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dissident Aleem Khan at his residence and thanked him for his support in the election process.
Talking to the media after the meeting, Hamza said that he will serve the people of Punjab with the help of Aleem Khan.
Speaking about the brawl in the Punjab Assembly during the election of the CM, Hamza said that Elahi was inciting his people to violence. “We will not seek revenge but law will take its course,” he had said.
Hamza became the leader of the house by grabbing 197 votes in the Punjab Assembly session marred by violence and ruckus.
