LAHORE: The crucial Punjab Assembly session was on Sunday adjourned till April 6 (Wednesday) without voting to elect the new leader of the house amid ruckus by opposition and government lawmakers.
The provincial assembly convened in the morning to choose a new chief minister for Punjab after former chief Usman Buzdar resigned and Prime Minister Imran Khan offered the seat to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, whereas the opposition nominated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz.
A complete ban was imposed on media’s access to the assembly’s press gallery for covering the voting of Punjab chief minister. Journalists and reporters staged a protest in effort to get access but were denied it.
Earlier, media personnel boycotted the Punjab Assembly session over alleged humiliation by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s provincial minister Yasir Humayun. The media were barred from entering the Punjab Assembly Secretariat despite traditionally being allowed to cover the session from the press gallery.
Speaking to the media outside the assembly, PML-N member Hamza Shehbaz in response to a question about the government tendering mass resignations, stated that only one resignation would come forth and that would be the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“Imran wants to cry fake tears now after ruining the public with inflation. Look at the tears of blood in the eyes of the nation,” Hamza said.
Meanwhile, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said he was hopeful of his victory. Commenting on Chaudhry Sarwar’s removal as governor Punjab, Elahi said that he was unaware of the decision, adding that the result would regardless be in front of everyone soon.
The PA session took place at the same time when a National Assembly session was to vote on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. In the end, neither of the two votes took place as the no-trust move in the NA was dismissed by Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, who deemed the resolution in contradiction of Article 5 of the Constitution.
PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique deemed the adjournment of the session “unconstitutional”.
Security beefed up
Security in Lahore, especially around the assembly premises, was beefed up ahead of the Punjab Assembly session. Chief City Police Officer Fayyaz Ahmed Dev directed security personnel to be on high alert throughout the provincial capital.
“Maintaining law and order, and protecting the lives and property of citizens is a top priority,” the CCPO said, adding that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands and affect the peace of the city.
Ordering enhanced security arrangements in and around the Punjab Assembly building he said that full security would be provided to all MPAs. He asked law enforcement agencies to increase patrolling near and around the assembly building.
‘Surprise move’
Earlier, the federal government, in a surprise move, removed Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar from his post hours before the session of the provincial assembly. He was later replaced by Omar Sarfraz Cheema, PTI’s former information secretary.
The Punjab government had de-notified CM Buzdar after the acceptance of his resignation but in the same notification allowed him “to continue to hold office until his successor enters upon the office”. In an array of notifications, the provincial government had also denotified all the 37 provincial ministers, five advisers to the chief minister and five special assistants to the chief minister.
Buzdar had presented his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 28 after a delegation of senior lawmakers had submitted a no-trust motion against him with Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti on the same day.
To be elected as chief minister, a candidate will need at least 186 votes in the 371-member house. In the Punjab Assembly, the PTI has 183 lawmakers, PML-Q 10, PML-N 165, PPP seven, five are independent and one belongs to Rah-i-Haq.
