The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has declared Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as its candidate for the seat of chief minister of Punjab.
In a tweet, the prime minister’s aide on political communication, Shahbaz Gill, made the announcement.
Following reports of Elahi being selected for Punjab chief minister’s slot, media reports stated that PML-Q leader and Federal Water Resources Minister Moonis Elahi said that Pervez Elahi had accepted the offer of the post of chief minister after Buzdar submitted his resignation to the party leadership.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib tweeted that current Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had tendered his resignation. He also reiterated that Prime Minister Imran Khan had nominated Pervaiz Elahi for the CM Punjab seat.
This comes less than an hour after the opposition formally tabled a no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly.
Shortly before Gill’s tweet, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry indicated that a “big change” in the Punjab government was in the works. Speaking with a local television channel, Chaudhry said that “it is obvious that the decision for a change in the [provincial] government has to be taken [now]”.
Earlier today, the opposition submitted a no-trust motion against current Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in the Punjab Assembly.
In another development, Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema from PML-Q stepped down from office.
A local news outlet reported that Cheema had earlier asked for permission from the party president, Chaudhry Shujaat, to step down as the federal minister. Today, the permission was granted.
However, he has not stepped down as a member of National Assembly. In a tweet, he said that his conscience compels him to vote against the premier.
https://twitter.com/TariqBashirMNA/status/1508429254308020227?s=20&t=1Om_fx6FaL8dLTRFkMbbIQ
In a fresh blow to the government, the joint opposition has announced that four lawmakers from the government’s ally Balochistan Awami Party has decided to support it in the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shahbaz Sharif disclosed the news during a press conference Pakistan People’s Party’s Co-chairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari, BAP leader Khalid Magsi, and others. He said the BAP made the decision to send the premier home in the greater interest of the country. He added the new government would fulfill its promises according to the expectation of the people of the Balochistan province.
This is a developing story and will be updated as reports come.
