Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar on Friday accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, who would continue to hold the office until his successor is elected and takes oath, a notification issued by the Punjab government confirmed.
The provincial cabinet, however, was dissolved after the Punjab governor accepted Buzdar’s resignation. According to an order, a copy of which is available with MinuteMirror, the governor wrote, “In exercise of the powers conferred under Article 109 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, I, Mohammad Sarwar, the governor of Punjab, hereby summon the 40th session of the provincial assembly of Punjab to meet on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 11 am.”
The order said the session was called for the election of the chief minister of Punjab under Article 130 of the Constitution. However, Buzdar would continue to hold the portfolio until his successor entered the office, it said.
The Punjab government issued a notification regarding the acceptance of Buzdar’s resignation. According to sources, the outgoing leader of the House could also be appointed as the interim chief minister. They said the notification was being readied for Buzdar’s appointment as the interim chief minister.
The notification said, “Furthermore, under the provision of Article 133 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan Buzdar shall continue to hold the office until his successor enters upon the office.”
Sources said Buzdar held a two-hour-long meeting with Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and discussed the future course of action for the election of the latter for the office of the chief minister.
Buzdar submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 28 after a group of lawmakers from the opposition moved a no-trust motion against him.
After the move, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi would be its candidate for the slot of the Punjab chief minister. Elahi’s nomination was decided to win the support of the allies ahead of voting on the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, as many other PTI allies were joining hands with the opponents.
Elahi accepted the offer and in return announced full support on the day of voting on the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly.
Earlier, as Buzdar submitted his resignation, Sarwar left for the federal capital to seek suggestions from the party’s leadership. Sources said that he also held discussions regarding the Punjab CM in the light of the present political situation.
Sources said that Prime Minister Imran Khan gave instructions to Governor Sarwar regarding Buzdar after he briefed the premier on his meeting with the outgoing CM. Sarwar, who also had a meeting with Elahi, briefed the PM on the numbers game ahead of the voting on the no-trust motion against him on April 3.
On the other hand, the opposition late Friday night nominated Hamza Shahbaz as its candidate for the post of the CM after party supremo Nawaz Sharif accorded approval for the same, according to reports.
It may be mentioned here that Prime Minister Imran Khan, during an interview aired Friday, also talked about Usman Buzdar’s resignation and said that he had decided to remove him following a “political understanding”.
In a statement issued by the PML-Q following Buzdar’s resignation, Elahi was quoted as telling the premier that “as allies, we will serve the nation together”. He had also assured the prime minister of the PML-Q’s full cooperation, especially in the Centre.
