LAHORE: In a shocking episode, PTI and PML-Q joint candidate Pervaiz Elahi on Friday lost the election for Punjab chief minister office to PML-N’s vice president and incumbent chief executive Hamza Shehbaz after Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari rejected 10 votes of Q League in the light of a letter from the party head Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
Scenes of jubilation from inside the Punjab Assembly. @HamzaSS emerges as the victor yet again!#پنجاب_صرف_شیرکا pic.twitter.com/OtZ05K3bcU
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) July 22, 2022
Elahi received 186 votes, while Shehbaz got 179 votes. However, after the votes of PML-Q MPs were rejected, the figure came down to 176.
Meanwhile, PTI MPA Raja Basharat countered the ruling of PA Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari, saying that the law states that the parliamentary party could issue instructions to party members. He pointed out that the party chief was not authorized to give such instructions if the parliamentary party had decided to vote a certain candidate. He also read the order of the Supreme Court. “The head of the parliamentary party is Pervaiz Elahi,” he contended.
However, Mazari said the matter had been clarified by the Supreme Court, which subsequently prorogued the session.
PTI, PML-Q MOVE SC AGAINST MAZARI’S RULING
Soon after the contentious ruling was announced, a joint parliamentary meeting of PML-Q and PTI was held, wherein it was decided to file a writ petition against Dost Mazari’s decision in the Supreme Court (SC).
Meanwhile, former planning minister and PTI leader Asad Umar tweeted that the party would approach the Supreme Court tonight.
آج رات کو ہی سپریم کورٹ میں پٹیشن فائل کر دی جائے گی
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) July 22, 2022
The decision came after PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz was re-elected as the chief minister (CM) of Punjab as Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari rejected the PML-Q’s votes in light of Ch Shujaat’s letter.
SHUJAAT REFUSED TO VOTE FOR ‘PTI CANDIDATE’
Minutes before the election, Hussain refused to vote for PTI-backed can Elahi. Ch Shujaat Hussain excused himself from voting for Pervaiz Elahi, the joint candidate of PTI and PML-Q.
Shujaat said that PML-Q will neither vote for the Imran Khan-backed candidate nor pave way for becoming a PTI candidate as the CM Punjab. It was learnt that Shujaat gave a clear message to Moonis Elahi.
PA Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari received a letter from PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain in which he stated that his political party will remain impartial in the voting process for the CM election. He requested the PA deputy speaker to not count PML-Q votes. The deputy speaker showed Shujaat’s letter in the House
PM PAYS TRIBUTE TO ZARDARI, SHUJAAT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday paid tribute to former president Asif Ali Zardari and Ch Shujaat Hussain, his family and associates for their role in the victory of democracy and constitutional values.
اللہ تعالیٰ کے حضور سجدہ شکر بجا لاتے ہیں جس نے ہمیں ایک بار پھر سرخرو فرمایا۔ چوہدری شجاعت حسین چوہدری ظہور الٰہی شہید کے سیاسی وارث اور علمبردار ہیں۔ انہوں نے ایک بار پھر اپنے عظیم والد اور خاندان کی جمہوری روایت کو زندہ و جاوید کیا۔ ان کا یہ کردار جمہوریت اور آئینی اقدار ۔۔۔
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 22, 2022
After the election of Hamza Shehbaz as chief minister of Punjab, the prime minister in a statement thanked Allah Almighty for giving success to the coalition government. He said Ch Shujaat, who was the political heir and flag-bearer of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Shaheed, once again made alive the democratic traditions of his great father and family.
مسلم لیگ ن کے رہنماؤں کی پریس کانفرنس https://t.co/lVuptlwKRb
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) July 22, 2022
The role of Ch Shujaat was a win for democracy and constitutional values, he added. Shehbaz Sharif said former president Asif Ali Zardari played a historic role for the Constitution, democracy and in the interest of the people.
The political fortitude of Asif Ali Zardari ended the crisis, he said and thanked him, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The prime minister also lauded the coalition parties, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Awami National Party, Balochistan National Party and Balochistan Awami Party.
The political sagacity, unity and support of the leaders of the coalition parties led to victory of democracy, he added. He also saluted the nation on the success of the coalition government.
PTI CHIEF CALLS FOR PROTEST
PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan has called for peaceful protests tonight against the outcomes of the CM Punjab election. Imran Khan said in his public address following the CM Punjab election that he was surprised by the happenings in the Punjab Assembly today. “Everyone is now looking to the Supreme Court (SC).”
Chairman PTI @ImranKhanPTI ends his address by asking the Nation to register a strong protest. #آج_سازش_نہیں_چلے_گی pic.twitter.com/D36gSsyhBJ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 22, 2022
Khan said that he has always prayed for the strengthening of democracy in Pakistan. He added that moral values possess importance in democracy but everyone has witnessed the auction of politicians.
He criticised that strict action would be taken against the horse-trading of lawmakers in any other society. “I want to appeal to the nation to record their peaceful protest against the Punjab Assembly developments tonight.”
The PTI chief said that no action was taken against the horse-trading of lawmakers during the last Senate polls despite the footage of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Yousaf Raza Gillani’s son had surfaced.
“We have defeated the state machinery, all political parties and the corrupt election commission. When this CM Punjab election was underway, Asif Ali Zardari was present in the province. I was fully aware of the trade of consciences by Zardari by using the stolen public funds.”
MOONIS CLARIFIES ABOUT PML-Q’S STATUS
PML-Q leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi clarified about the status of his political party in Chief Minister (CM) Punjab election. Moonis Elahi said in a Twitter message, “Yesterday, PML parliamentary party chaired by parliamentary party leader Sajid Bhatti in the Punjab Assembly held its meeting and it was decided unanimously that Pervaiz Elahi is the Chief Minister (CM) candidate.”
Yesterday PML parliamentary party chaired by parliamentary party leader @SajidBhattiPP67 in Punjab Assembly held its meeting and it was decided unanimously that @chparvezelahi is cm candidate. pic.twitter.com/Te6IFvpyKd
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) July 22, 2022
He said that PML-Q wants chief ministership through Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan instead of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and its allies.
PML-Q WORKERS PROTEST AGAINST SHUJAAT
PML-Q workers staged a protest against the party president Shujaat Hussain over his decision to not voting for Pervaiz Elahi during Chief Minister (CM) Punjab election.
PML-Q workers vented off their anger against the party president Ch Shujaat Hussain over his decision regarding the CM Punjab election. The workers said that they have been supporting the Chaudhry brothers for two decades but Shujaat’s name will not be mentioned in the political history in a good context.
They expressed outrage that the workers cast vote to elect PML-Q lawmakers but the top leader bowed his head before someone else. They alleged that he sold his conscience to get the short-term rulership.
“The results of the Punjab by-elections showed who is having the massive public support. We respect Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Salik Hussain very much. We want to request Shujaat withdraw his decision. We have full confidence in the leadership of Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi.”
The political activists also raised slogans against Shujaat and Salik Hussain.
IGP REMOVED MOMENTS BEFORE CM VOTE
Earlier, moments before the much-anticipated session of the Punjab Assembly to elect a new chief minister commenced on Friday, the government appointed a new provincial police chief.
According to Establishment Division notifications, copies of which are available with Dawn.com, Rao Sardar Ali Khan has been replaced with Faisal Shahkar.
The outgoing inspector general has been transferred and posted as the Pakistan Railways inspector general with immediate effect until further orders.
Separately, Shahkar, previously serving as the Railways inspector general has now been transferred and posted as the provincial police chief with immediate effect until further orders.
SECURITY BEEFED UP IN PA
CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana Friday directed to further beef up security in provincial capital including in surroundings of the Punjab Assembly (PA) in wake of Chief Minister’s election.
He directed to provide foolproof security to all assembly members and said that it was among top priorities of police to ensure peace, law and order.
He said that no one would be allowed to create unrest and take the law into hands, adding that 1,400 policemen including four SPs, 11 SDPOs, 17 SHOs, 52 upper sub-ordinates, personnel of dolphin force, anti riot force, elite force and lady police officials have been deployed to avoid any untoward situation.
The personnel of quick response force have also been put on high alert to control any law and order situation, the CCPO said and added that every person entering the PA premises would be thoroughly checked.
He directed to enhance the patrolling near Punjab Assembly and other adjoining areas, while the traffic officials have been directed to ensure smooth traffic flow in city.
The CCPO said that snipers have also been deployed at rooftops of nearby buildings of Punjab Assembly, adding that no unauthorised person or vehicle would be allowed to enter Assembly’s premises.
LEGAL EXPERTS TERM RULING ‘AGAINST THE LAW’
Senior lawyer Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan was also categorical in his observation that the decision by the deputy speaker was “against the laws”.
“If you read Article 63-A, it has two segments with one part describing parliamentary dominance and the second is about the authority of a party head,” he said while talking to a private TV channel.
Ahsan said that a party head could take a better decision as he was an individual who travels all over the world, but “the parliamentary party are the few people who take part in parliament debates and have an eagle eye on such matters. They are the best judge rather than the party head.”
He observed that the parliamentary party had the authority in the first place to determine either to vote in favour or against, then the party head comes next to decide if any member should be prosecuted.
On the other hand, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob opined that according to Article 63-A (b) of Constitution, direction to vote for or against a candidate is issued to party legislators by parliamentary party in a legislature and not by the party head.
According to Constitution Article 63A(b), Direction to vote for or against a candidate is issued to party legislators by parliamentary party in a legislature; & not by party head! So it is PMLQ parliamentary party in Punjab Assembly which directs its members & not Ch. Shujaat. https://t.co/aVNdomQSOD
— احمد بلال محبوبAhmedBilalMehboob (@ABMPildat) July 22, 2022
“So it is PML-Q parliamentary party in Punjab Assembly which directs its members & not Ch Shujaat,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle.
As the uncertainty surrounded the election of Punjab chief minister, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry warned that the situation would get worse if people’s mandate and Supreme Court’s verdict were not respected.
“There is no such despair [among the party leadership]… the people have announced their verdict [in Punjab by-polls]… the decision of the people will be implemented, the procedure should be constitutional… hatred is increasing among the people, uncertainty and anxiety are at an extreme.”
