-No Trust Motions also moved against Punjab CM, Speaker, Dy. Speaker
-PPP, PML-N Lawmakers submit Motions
-Motion against CM states Elahi massacred democratic traditions
-PTI forms committee for seat adjustment with PML-Q
FROM ABID USMAN
LAHORE: Governor Punjab Baligh ur Rehman Monday directed Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to seek a Vote of Confidence from Punjab Assembly on December 21 (Wednesday).
According to details, the Governor Punjab has forwarded a letter to Chief Minister’s Secretariat, directing CM Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from Punjab Assembly on December 21.
In this regard, Governor Baligh ur Rehman has summoned a session of the provincial assembly for Wednesday, December 21, 2022, stated the order – shared on Twitter.
Governor Punjab, in its order, said that the chief minister has “lost the confidence of his party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and members of his own party belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)”.
“It is widely known that over the last few weeks serious differences of opinion erupted between two coalition parties of the ruling alliance in the Punjab Assembly i.e. PTI and PML-Q regarding political strategies, dissolution of the assembly, development schemes, and transfers of public officials,” it stated.
The order highlighted that the differences became evident after the appointment of a PTI member — namely Khayal Ahmed — to the provincial assembly without the knowledge of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, a delegation of PPP and PML-N lawmakers submitted on Monday night a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi in the Punjab Assembly, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said.
The confirmation from Sanaullah came during a TV interview after opposition lawmakers, including PPP Parliamentary Leader Hassan Murtaza, PML-N’s Khawaja Imran Nazir, Chief Whip of PML-N Tahir Khalil Sindhu and others reached the Punjab Assembly Secretariat and submitted the no-trust motion.
It was formally received by Punjab Assembly Secretary Inayat Hussain Lak. The document submitted by the opposition stated that members of the PPP and the PML-N of the provincial assembly had lost confidence in CM Elahi’s ability to lead the house as per the Constitution.
It added that Elahi had “massacred democratic traditions” and thus he had lost the confidence of the majority of members of the house.
The no-trust move was moved under “Article 136 of the Constitution read with Rule 23 of the Rules of Procedure Provincial Assembly of Punjab (PAP), 1997”.
According to Article 136, a resolution for a vote of no-confidence moved by not less than twenty per cent of the total membership of the provincial assembly may be passed against the chief minister by the provincial assembly.
A resolution referred to in clause (1) shall not be voted upon before the expiration of three days, or later than seven days, from the day on which such resolution is moved in the Provincial Assembly.
If the resolution referred to in clause (1) is passed by a majority of the total membership of the Provincial Assembly, the Chief Minister shall cease to hold office.
Separately, a no-trust motion has also been submitted against PA Speaker Sibtain Khan under Article 53 of the Constitution. Nazir, in an interview after the submission, said the no-confidence motion was submitted against the chief minister, PA Speaker, and Deputy Speaker.
He said there were signatures of “around 150 members” and there were more members coming from outside Lahore. He added that the step was taken “after numbers were completed”.
On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has formed a committee for the seat adjustment between his party and ally Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday.
The development came in response to the PML-Q’s demand of a seat adjustment in 25 constituencies with the PTI before the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. Fawad, who is PTI’s senior vice-president, said the newly-formed body will look into the matters regarding the seat adjustment.
The development came last week during a meeting of a PML-Q delegation, headed by former federal minister Ch Moonis Elahi, with PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Lahore as political activity heats up in the country ahead of the dissolution of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies.
MNA Ch Hussein Elahi also attended the meeting that discussed the core issue related to the dissolution of the assembly, sources said. They shared that the PML-Q wanted to finalise seat adjustments with the PTI before the dissolution and in case of fresh or by-polls, both sides would come up as election allies.
The sources said the PML-Q wanted its share of at least 25 general seats in Punjab in the next polls. Parvez Elahi, during the past few weeks, has granted the status of division to Gujrat and has given the status of the district to different Tehsils — a move analysts believe is done to secure political mileage.
The PML-Q leadership wants to field its candidates from Wazirabad and parts of southern Punjab. On all such issues, negotiations are underway.
