Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Monday submitted a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Pervez Elahi in the Punjab Assembly.
The development comes days before the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) plans to dissolve the provincial assembly.
On Saturday, the ousted prime minister announced December 23 (Friday) as the date of dissolution of provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Governor Punjab has asked the Chief Minister to seek a vote of confidence from the assembly. Session convened on 21st December.
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) December 19, 2022
گورنر پنجاب نے وزیراعلیٰ کو اسمبلی سے اعتماد کا ووٹ لینے کو کہ دیا۔ اسمبلی کا اجلاس 21 دسمبر کو طلب۔ pic.twitter.com/QKsoTD23cX
As a strategy to counter PTI’s move, the joint opposition of Muslim League-N and People’s Party submitted a no-confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly.
The final decision came a day after several meetings between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Muslim League (Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and the decision to move the motion in the provincial assembly was reached.
This document was submitted by Muslim League-N legislators Mian Marghub Ahmed, Khalil Tahir Sindhu and Khawaja Imran Nazir. Parliamentary Leader of People’s Party Hasan Murtaza was also with the delegation.
Meanwhile, Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman will convene an important meeting of the provincial assembly on December 21 (Wednesday).
According to a notification issued by the Secretariat of the Governor of Punjab, “Governor Punjab is pleased to sign an order calling for a meeting of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab at 1600 hours (4 pm) on Wednesday and seeking a vote of confidence from the Chief Minister Punjab. felt Article 130(7) of the Constitution.
According to an order shared by the Muslim League (N) on its official Twitter handle, the governor said that the chief minister “has ordered his party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and members of his own party belonging to the Muslim League (Q) to have lost confidence”.
“It is widely known that the two coalition parties of the ruling coalition in the Punjab Assembly, the PTI and the Muslim League-Q, have been at loggerheads for the last few weeks regarding political strategy, dissolution of the assembly, development schemes and people’s transfer. Serious differences have arisen from the authorities,” he said.
The order also highlighted that the above-mentioned differences became apparent when the Chief Minister inducted an MLA Khyal Ahmad in the provincial cabinet without informing PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
“The Chief Minister has said in a TV program on December 4 that he will not dissolve the provincial assembly until March 2023, a position that is in stark contrast to PTI’s public opinion on the matter.”
The order also cited CM Elahi who criticized Imran “openly” during an interview aired on December 18 over the latter’s comments on former Army Chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa. And sternly.”
Citing these facts, the governor said that Chief Minister Elahi “does not command the confidence” of the majority members of the Punjab Assembly and later called for a meeting in the chamber on December 21 at 4 pm under Section 130(7) of the Constitution. A vote of no confidence against God.
According to Article 130(7): “The Chief Minister shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor, but the Governor shall not exercise his powers under this clause unless he is satisfied that the Chief Minister commands the confidence of a majority.” No. Members of the Provincial Assembly, in such a case he will summon the Provincial Assembly and demand the Chief Minister to seek a vote of confidence from the Assembly.
‘No-confidence motion will fail’
Reacting to the development, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Elahi was a move to “run away from elections”.
“Sanaullah and [Planning Minister] Ahsan Iqbal were telling PTI to dissolve assemblies and they [PDM] will contest elections but today they are running away,” Fawad wrote on his official Twitter handle. wrote on his official Twitter handle that PTI will not let him run away.
عدم اعتماد اور اعتماد کے ووٹ کا مقصد الیکشنوں سے فرار ہے، کل تک رانا ثنااللہ اور احسن اقبال کہ رہے تھے اسمبلی تحلیل کرو الیکشن میں جائیں گے آج جوتے چھوڑ کر بھاگ رہے ہیں لیکن ہم بھاگنے نہیں دیں گے، عدم اعتماد ناکام ہوگی اور پرویز الہیٰ اسمبلی تحلیل کریں گے عوام کا فیصلہ ہی حتمی ہے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) December 19, 2022
He further said that the no-confidence motion will fail and Chief Minister Elahi will dissolve the assembly, the people’s decision is final.
“In touch with Shahbaz and Zardari”
Earlier today, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain confirmed that he is in touch with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, but not with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). no.
Confirming the meetings with the two leaders, Shujaat said that the meetings were positive.
“Political contacts and meetings will continue for the next three to four days,” the PML-Q leader said, adding that they would work out a joint strategy to counter the PTI’s plan.
‘Two options under consideration’
Outlining the ruling alliance’s strategy to prevent the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, the PML-Q leader said the PPP and PML-N were considering two options – a no-confidence motion. And ask Chief Minister Pervez Elahi to take a vote of confidence.
Parties may have more options but they share two options with me, he added.
“Those who do not have enough numbers to make a no-confidence motion successful should try to make up the numbers,” he advised the politician.
The leader of Muslim League (Q) further said that if he takes any decision, the Chief Minister of Punjab can remain in his post.
