Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman on Friday morning notified Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi of a DD citing his failure to secure a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly as political turmoil continues in Pakistan’s largest province.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – Elahi’s staunch ally – rejected the governor’s notification. PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said that the notification has no legal status and Elahi also announced to approach the court tomorrow.
“As the Chief Minister has avoided taking the vote of confidence on the appointed day and time, he steps down. Orders issued this evening,” Rehman wrote on his Twitter handle while sharing a copy of the notification.
Since CM has refrained from obtaining Vote of Confidence at the appointed day and time therefore he ceases to hold office. Orders issued this evening pic.twitter.com/ZWnK376DfP
— M Baligh Ur Rehman (@MBalighurRehman) December 22, 2022
In the notification, the governor mentioned that despite the order to take the vote of confidence to the chief minister, he did not follow it. Further, Elahi did not take the vote even after 24 hours, the notification said.
The notification said, “I am satisfied that he does not enjoy the confidence of the majority of the members of the Punjab Assembly and therefore resigns immediately.”
The notification also states that the provincial cabinet has been dissolved and the chief minister will continue to hold office until a new person is elected.
After the directive of Governor Punjab, Chief Secretary Punjab Abdullah Khan Sambal also issued a notification to dissolve the provincial cabinet. “Mr. Pervaiz Elahi has resigned as Chief Minister of Punjab with immediate effect,” the notification said.
Rehman, who belongs to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had called a meeting to take Elahi’s vote of confidence at 4 pm on Wednesday.
But defying these instructions, Punjab Assembly Speaker Sabatin Khan – a PTI member – declared the order unconstitutional and adjourned the ongoing session till Friday.
Sabtain said that it is not the authority of the governor to give a ministry to anyone. He added that the governor cannot call a new session when one is already in progress in the assembly.
However, the matter did not end there as the governor rejected the Speaker’s decision and said it had no bearing on the order to convene the meeting for the vote of confidence.
‘No legal status’
The PTI rejected the Governor’s move saying that it has no legal status. Reacting to the governor’s notification, Fawad said that the divine and provincial cabinets will continue to function as usual.
A senior PTI leader tweeted that a reference against the governor would be sent to President Dr. Arif Alvi as impeachment proceedings.
گورنر پنجاب کا وزیر اعلیٰ کو ڈی نوٹیفیکیشن کرنے کے نوٹیفکیشن کی کوئ قانونی حیثئت نہیں، پرویز الہیٰ اور صوبائ کابینہ بدستور اپنے فرائض سر انجام دیتی رہے گی، گورنر کے خلاف ریفرینس صدر کو بھیجا جائیگا اور ان کو عہدے سے ہٹانے کی کاروائ کا آغاز کیا جا رہا ہے https://t.co/ieD3XtAVCv
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) December 22, 2022
PTI Spokesperson on Legal Issues Maleeka Bokhari said PTI is the largest political party in the province and commands the confidence of Punjab’s electorate.
PTI is the largest political party in the province & commands the confidence of Punjabs electorate. Governor Punjab has with mala fides & in violation of the Constitution issued this order.This is arbitrary & against settled principles of jurisprudence#گورنر_پنجاب_کوعہدےسےہٹاؤ https://t.co/QYBnKHYpex
— Maleeka Ali Bokhari (@MalBokhari) December 22, 2022
“Governor Punjab has with mala fide and in violation of the Constitution issued this order. This is arbitrary and against settled principles of jurisprudence,” she added.
