A day after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz was voted as the Punjab chief minister amid reservations by the opponents, the federal government on Sunday removed Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, who was appointed to the post by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government earlier this month.
The development was confirmed by PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb. The government has yet to name a new governor.
Cheema was sacked amid reports that he has sought an inquiry report from the Punjab Assembly speaker over the election of the new chief minister that was won by Hamza after a violent confrontation between the PML-N and lawmakers of the PTI and PML-Q.
On April 3, Cheema was named as the new governor after the ruling PTI sacked Chaudhry Sarwar on the demand of PA Speaker Pervaiz Elahi, who was a contender for the CM post, hours before the session to elect the chief minister.
On Saturday, Advocate General Punjab Ahmad Awais also raised questions on the legality of the process of CM Punjab election and declared it illegal.
He said that governor Punjab has sought an inquiry report from Secretary Punjab Assembly.
He said that thus far the governor through proper a channel has not been informed of the outcome of the house proceeding.
Awais added that the deputy speaker had informed the governor on a simple piece of paper which legally does not count and was not the official procedure, adding that the entire procedure was tainted, and it seemed that it was being done so to reach a predetermined conclusion.
Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema has “delayed” the oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz due to the ruckus that took place in the assembly a day earlier.
Cheema, in a press conference Sunday, condemned the violence that took place in the Punjab Assembly one day prior and said that such incidents set a very wrong precedent.
“I am a political worker and have fought elections. This a very wrong precedent being set,” said the governor.
It should be noted that during yesterday’s session, 197 MPAs had cast their votes to elect Hamza Shehbaz as the chief minister.
The Punjab governor accused the CM elect of using “state power” on the polling day against his rival the PTI and PML-Q.
“I believe if Hamza Shehbaz had enough votes, then he should not have made the election controversial like this,” said Cheema.
The governor also questioned whether the elections for the Punjab chief minister were conducted as per the directives of the Lahore High Court and said that he had summoned a report from the secretary of the Punjab Assembly related to the ruckus and violence that took place during the session yesterday.
Cheema added that Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari acted in a “partisan way”.
The governor said that his office will write letters to the advocate-general of Punjab as well as the speaker related to the polls.
“Sitting in a constitutional office, I cannot endorse an unconstitutional act. I will start these [oath-taking proceedings] once I am satisfied that these elections were conducted according to the Constitution and LHC’s order,” said the governor.
While the governor was holding the press conference, reports started circulating that he has been removed from office by the federal government.
Sources had told Geo News that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had sent a summary to President Arif Alvi for the removal of Governor Cheema. The summary was moved under the discretionary powers given to the premier.
The news was also confirmed by PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb.
When Governor Cheema was asked to confirm the story, he said that PM Shehbaz Sharif has “no right to remove him from office.”
“PM has no right to remove me, he sends a summary to the president. I am holding this office with the pleasure of the president and until the president does not notify this, I will continue to hold this office,” said Governor Cheema.
