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Pervaiz Elahi freed from jail after Lahore High Court order [Post# 577]

LOL at the DAKOO supporters. What bigger U-TURN than Cherry Blossom threatening the Zardaris of this world to drag on the street and hang them upside down, then having his UMBRELLA sacrificing to the same thugs. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nirf_frF-LY)

When Imran tries to get even, he is the master of U-Turn hahaha...I hope Imran keep showing them the mirror. If the thieves are busy horse trading, let it be the level playfield! Let them have the taste of their own meds. I will support Imran to cheat and collude wherever possible to smush these leeches.
 
PetroDollars said:
So IK spends most of his 'historic' speech about how NRO was the biggest blunder in Pakistans history and the next day appoints the architect of the NRO as CM, the same person he once called punjabs biggest daku, This must be a joke.
Click to expand...

Bro wait till tomorrow MQM also black mailed him and he will offer them as well.
Just the other day Ik was praising CM and saying he is the honest and working hard. So basically replacing honest with biggest doku?
 
Smart move by PTI, goal is not to let patwaris take over the power, otherwise they are masters of rigging in polls .
 
Q league has been PTI's ally , so not a bid deal to give them Punjab's CMship.
 
pakistanisgreat said:
Bro wait till tomorrow MQM also black mailed him and he will offer them as well.
Just the other day Ik was praising CM and saying he is the honest and working hard. So basically replacing honest with biggest doku?
Click to expand...

Rumours that Zardari will ask Murad Shah to resign and give the CM to MQM in exchange for voting against PTI in the No Confidence Vote. Pti is offering MQM the governors post and 1-2 more ministries but the CM position is the real deal.

Lol, this like a test match with 5 runs needed in the final over with one wicket left.
 
Hours after the PML-Nawaz-led opposition submitted a no-confidence motion in the provincial assembly against Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, the ruling PTI unleashed what appeared to be the long-promised ‘trump card’ by nominating PML-Q leader Parvez Elahi as its candidate for the provincial chief executive’s slot.

Sources say PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz is being blamed for the party losing out on the potential support of the ruling coalition’s important ally, the PML-Q. A poor offer to the Chaudhrys is said to be the main reason for the allies not backing the opposition in its efforts to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion.

Read: Sacrificing Buzdar may be the right move but has left the PM with little time to keep his position intact

“Nawaz Sharif and his daughter are being blamed by some leaders in the PPP and PML-N for not showing flexibility in conceding the PML-Q’s demands,” a senior leader in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), who was part of the parleys with the PML-Q, told Dawn on Monday.

Insiders say PPP, some ‘N’ leaders unhappy over Maryam’s ‘inflexibility’ in talks with ‘Q’ league

“The PML-Q leadership wanted the chief minister’s slot for the remaining term (of the incumbent assemblies), and up to 20 seats in the next term. The PPP top leadership — Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari — agreed to these demands, but the elder Sharif and Maryam were not ready to budge,” the leader disclosed, adding that the father-daughter duo had conveyed to the Chaudhrys that Mr Elahi could be considered for Punjab’s top position only for an interim period of three to five months, after sending the PTI government home.

There was no final understanding between them on seat adjustment for the next polls.

Mr Zardari is reportedly upset with the Sharifs for not agreeing to a more lucrative offer to the Chaudhrys, which eventually resulted in the PML-Q announcing its support for PM Khan, who offered what his allies wanted.

Another opposition leader said the huge trust deficit between the Sharifs and the Chaudhrys could not be bridged despite vigorous efforts by PPP co-chairman Zardari.

A PML-N insider said the party leadership was also concerned about Mr Elahi’s “political manoeuvering”. “There is a growing concern among the top leadership that if Mr Elahi is given the chief minister’s position he will consolidate his party at the cost of the PML-N,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yousuf Raza Gilani told Dawn that the joint opposition had not lost hope with the Chaudhrys and was still engaged in parleys with them. “We have the required numbers to oust the prime minister, yet we want the government allies to support the no-trust motion against the premier. We are hopeful that the PML-Q leadership will eventually join us,” he maintained.

PML-N Punjab information secretary Azma Bokhari also said the opposition was still in contact with the Chaudhrys and that they could review their decision about backing the prime minister.

Meanwhile, reports of a rift among the Chaudhrys are emerging over a decision to remain part of the coalition, as Mr Shujaat wants to shake hands with the PML-N, but Mr Elahi sees the PTI as a better option owing to the CM offer.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2022
 
PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Tuesday denied reports of a rift within the Chaudhry family and the party, saying all decisions taken had his "complete backing".

His statement comes a day after the PML-Q finally put its weight behind embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan as he as he faces a no-trust motion by the opposition in the National Assembly in exchange for the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) announcing Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as its candidate for Punjab chief minister after incumbent Usman Buzdar presented his resignation to the prime minister.

The PML-Q is a crucial ally of the PTI government in Punjab and Centre, with 10 and five seats, respectively, and the Chaudhrys support to PM Imran Khan is being seen as a revival of his hopes to save his government.

Dawn reported that the PML-Q camp was happy to get the lucrative offer from the government, however, some in the Chaudhry family were not happy about going with the PTI, and their discussions over the issue continued till late in the night.

Geo News had reported yesterday that there was a split among the Chaudhrys after their party's MNA, Tariq Bashir Cheema, resigned as federal minister and said he would vote in favour of the opposition's no-trust motion – in clear defiance of his party. The TV channel reported that other PML-Q lawmakers were expected to follow Cheema's line.

Denying the impression of an internal split, Shujaat said those who wanted to gain political mileage by "falsely propagating differences" would end up disappointed. "Some rumours were being pushed and circulated about alleged differences within our family," he noted, terming these reports "baseless".

"I do not believe in [giving] explanations but I would like to say that I am considered the head of the family," he said, adding that "an opinion on a particular issue should not be presented as a decision with an intent to exploit it for political gains."

The number of youth, according to him, in the current assembly was more than that in the previous assemblies. "It would be wrong to accuse them of any wrongdoing."

Allegations of bribery were "uncalled-for", he said, adding that "wise and educated people do not like such terms".

Shujaat said his family was spread all over Pakistan, and not just Punjab, for the last 50 years and reiterated that all decisions in the family were taken with his consent.

Dawn
 
In a dramatic turn of events, on Monday evening Prime Minister Imran Khan nominated Parvez Elahi as the chief minister in Punjab. Elahi is the leader of the PML-Q, a Punjab-based political party that is in coalition with Khan’s PTI.

At the moment, the PML-Q has five members in the national assembly and 10 in the Punjab assembly.

These votes are crucial for the PTI government that is trying to block attempts by the Opposition to sweep the prime minister from power, through a vote of no-trust.

For now, the situation at the centre remains fluid. Daily political developments suggest the balance can tilt either way on the day of the vote of no-confidence.

But by naming Elahi, can the PTI count on stability at least in Punjab?

Does Elahi even have the required votes to win in the provincial assembly? A major player in the province is the group of rebel PTI members of the provincial assembly (MPAs), who are led by the Jahangir Tareen group. Which way will they throw their support?

How many votes does Elahi need?

To be elected chief minister, Elahi will need 186 votes, therefore a simple majority, in the 371-strong Punjab Assembly.

What is the breakup right now?

As of now, the ruling coalition, which includes the PTI, Rah-e-Haq and the PML-Q, has a total of 194 members.

PML-Q — 10
PTI — 183
Rah-e-Haq — 1
Total: 194

On the other side, the Opposition, which consists of the PML-N and PPP have 172.

PML-N — 165
PPP — 7
Total: 172


Separately there are five independents in the assembly too.

Who can swing the vote?

For now, Elahi has more than enough votes, therefore over the 186 thresholds, to win over the slot of the chief minister. However, this is only if all those in the ruling coalition vote for Elahi.

What could throw a spanner in the works for the chief minister hopeful is the Jahangir Tareen group, which claims to have in its ranks over 20 MPAs. These MPAs are all from the ruling PTI.

If these go against Elahi, then he will need to break away a few MPAs from the PML-N to sail to the top.

The PTI already claims to have five MPAs from the PML-N and one from the PPP in Punjab, who they are sure have jumped ship and left the Opposition camp.

Elahi could also look towards the five independents in the Punjab assembly, Jugnu Mohsin, Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Bilal Warraich, Qasim Abbas and Chaudhry Nisar for help.

GEO
 
pakistanisgreat said:
Bro wait till tomorrow MQM also black mailed him and he will offer them as well.
Just the other day Ik was praising CM and saying he is the honest and working hard. So basically replacing honest with biggest doku?
Click to expand...

PMLQ are PTIs allies in Punjab and helped form the government after 2018 elections. Its not like they were plucked out from the opposition benches.

Poor appointment but I'd rather this appointment then going back to your corrupt masters who have raped the country for decades.
 
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Great decision by IK.


I do feel it is very temporary though. We are heading for early elections, perhaps by the end of the year. I hope they are announced soon so that I can book my flight and stamp on the ballot paper for the bat symbol once again.
 
The amount of our tax money spent on these mental midgets in the opposition, where we pay for their parliament attending expenses and housing and food and transportation expenses in ISD - and then the kind of activities these haram khores are involved in?

If Pakistani nation wakes up, none of the imbeciles should get a SINGLE vote.
 
LAHORE: The dissident Jahangir Khan Tareen group of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has taken centre stage in the politics of Punjab once again as both the government and opposition are making a beeline for it, urging it to play a decisive role in the formation of the provincial government.

The politics of Punjab has seen multiple somersaults over the past week brought upon largely by the happenings in the capital, including the no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan, pitching of Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi with the chief ministership as bait to protect PM Khan, and MQM-P parting ways with the PTI and joining the opposition to dislodge the incumbent government in Islamabad.

However, the Jahangir Tareen group, standing strong with 17 MPAs and some eight MNAs, is again following a wait-and-see policy and not even holding full-fledged consultations to make a decision. A member of the group said they may gather in Lahore on Thursday (today), expecting Mr Tareen will return in a day or two to take a final decision after deliberation with all his supporters.

“The political drama in the Centre as well as Punjab is over,” he said, adding that both the government and Mr Elahi are contacting the group for support. On the other hand, opposition parties are also establishing contacts with the group to work out ‘feasible’ plans.

The source said the entire plan had been chalked out, beginning with the ouster of PM Khan and Elahi becoming chief executive of the largest province, but a ‘hasty’ decision manoeuvred by a member of the Chaudhry family dulled Mr Elahi’s prospects in the next set-up.

“We have already achieved our core demand of a minus-Buzdar Punjab government, and any additional incentive coming our way, either from the government or the opposition side, will be a bonus,” the group member explained.

On the other hand, Mr Elahi, who is also the PML-Q Punjab president, has geared up efforts to gather maximum number of MPAs around him to protect his chance at the chief ministership offered on a platter by the PM, abandoning his ‘assignment’ of placating MNAs to save Mr Khan in the National Assembly.

In the latest development, Mr Elahi met eight Punjab ministers and tasked them with liaising with maximum MPAs and luring them to vote for him, and also discussed the formation of the government in Punjab. The ministers included PML-Q’s Hafiz Ammar Yasir and PTI’s Raja Basharat of law and Chaudhry Zaheeruddin of public prosecution, who were previously PML-Q members but had on Mr Elahi’s instructions joined the ruling party ahead of the 2018 general elections. The other PTI ministers were Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Sibtain Khan, Murad Raas and MPA Wasim Khan Badozai.

Meanwhile, former senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan, another important player in Punjab politics who claims to have the support of dozens of MPAs, has made it clear that he would not vote for the ruling party candidate, Parvez Elahi, for the coveted slot of Punjab chief minister.

Considering himself as the most suitable candidate for the seat, Aleem had felt hurt over PM Khan’s indifference towards his decades-long efforts for the party. He had graciously resigned from the cabinet and after almost four months removed his ‘PTI affiliation’ from his Twitter account.

In the meantime, Aleem had also met PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif in London telling him that he had the support of 40 MPAs, including provincial ministers, and could be a strong player for the PML-N in Punjab. He has, however, so far failed to display that strength, as many of those who attended a luncheon he hosted a few weeks ago had said the ‘supporters’ he claimed to have did not actually belong to his group. Those ‘supporters’ were there to attend a lunch hosted by Aleem as a colleague in the Punjab government.

The former minister’s spokesman, Mian Khalid Mahmood, announced that Aleem had refused to vote for Parvez Elahi as chief executive of Punjab. In a statement, the spokesman said PM Khan had in the past used certain titles for Elahi that could not be repeated. “Why could Imran Khan not find anyone out of the 184 devoted PTI MPAs as a candidate for the chief minister?” he questioned.

Aleem claimed that every sincere PTI worker had an objection to Elahi’s nomination. “At such a crucial time, Khan sahib tried to save his government by nominating Parvez Elahi, whom he used to call thief and dacoit. Jahangir Tareen, too, had rendered many sacrifices for the PTI and we all pray for his speedy recovery,” he added, hinting at chances of going hand in hand with the Tareen group.

“The Aleem Khan group’s reply has been sent to Parvez Elahi about their clear-cut refusal to vote for the PML-Q leader,” the spokesman added.

Buzdar’s resignation

Interestingly, outgoing Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar’s resignation is expected to reach the Governor House a little before official hours at 9am on Thursday (today), and is said to be accepted within minutes.

However, on Wednesday night, news was leaked from Islamabad and reported by the electronic media that the resignation had already reached Governor House, and Governor Chaudhry Sarwar was expected to accept it in the morning.

“The reason behind leaking the news was to make an attempt to keep Parvez Elahi under PM Khan’s control and prevent him from slipping to the opposition side in this fast-changing political scenario in Punjab,” a source in the Governor House told Dawn.

Governor Sarwar reached Lahore from Islamabad late on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2022
 
The Jahangir Khan Tareen group will support the joint Opposition’s candidate, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz for Punjab’s chief minister slot, senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said on Saturday hours before an assembly session scheduled to pick Usman Buzdar's replacement.

The development came after a meeting between former finance minister Ishaq Dar and PTI's ex-secretary general Jahangir Tareen at a hotel in London.

Sources said that the two sides discussed the upcoming no-confidence vote on Sunday and the election of the chief minister of Punjab.

Two days earlier, it was also reported that Dar and Tareen spoke over the phone. The telephonic conversation was confirmed by sources close to Dar and Tareen. People, with knowledge of the meeting, said that the two leaders discussed possible ways of cooperation in Punjab and the Centre.

PML-N leader Ishaq Dar took to Twitter to share the big political development and thanked Tareen for announcing his support for Hamza Shahbaz.

“Had a fruitful final round of discussion with Mr Jehangir Khan Tareen. Mutually concluded that #JKT_Group will support joint Opposition's candidate, Mr Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, for the slot of Chief Minister, Punjab. Deeply appreciate the support of #JKT and #JKT_Group,” Ishaq Dar Tweeted.

Meanwhile, Tareen group spokesperson Aun Chaudhry has claimed that their 16 MPs will support the joint opposition's candidate.

Sources said that Hamza Shahbaz will meet with the PTI's disgruntled lawmakers today and give them all necessary assurances.

Meanwhile, all the efforts of PML-Q leader and federal minister Moonis Elahi went in vain to cajole the Jahangir Tareen group in a bid to garner support for Pervaiz Elahi as CM Punjab.

Moonis Elahi had a four-hour long meeting with the disgruntled JKT group, however, the meeting did not end up with a positive result.

Upon asking about the meeting result, Moonis Elahi tried to put off journalists by saying, “all is well.”

However, PTI MPA Nauman Langrial said they had been in contact with Jahangir Tareen and the next round of meetings would be held at 2 PM today.

To foil the Opposition’s no-trust motion and to woo allies, PM Imran Khan had asked Usman Buzdar to resign from the post of CM Punjab. The PM also nominated Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the new chief minister of Punjab.

PA meets today

On Friday, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhamad Sarwar accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

Meanwhile, following the acceptance of the resignation, the Punjab cabinet has also been dissolved.

Sarwar sought approval from PM Khan before taking his final decision, sources said after which he summoned a session of the Punjab Assembly today to elect the new leader of the house.

However, Secretary Assembly Muhammad Khan Bhatti said that only a schedule will be issued today for the election of the chief minister and it is up to the speaker to decide about the day of voting.

The speaker has the authority in this regard and will make the final call in this regard whether the voting will be held tomorrow or on Monday, Bhatti said.

GEO
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Had fruitful final round of discussion with Mr Jehangir Khan Tareen. <br>Mutually concluded that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JKT_Group?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JKT_Group</a> will support joint Opposition's candidate, Mr Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, for the slot of Chief Minister, Punjab.<br>Deeply appreciate support of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JKT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JKT</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JKT_Group?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JKT_Group</a></p>— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) <a href="https://twitter.com/MIshaqDar50/status/1510023167485562889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
No voting for new Punjab CM today

LAHORE:
Lawmakers in Punjab will not be electing the new chief minister of the province today and an election schedule will be issued instead, said Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti on Saturday.

“The assembly will convene today at 11 am and during the session, candidates will submit their nomination papers,” the secretary said. "The speaker has the power to call for a vote tomorrow or Monday."

The assembly secretariat also released the agenda and SOPs for the session to be held for the election of the leader of the house.

“On the day of the election of the chief minister, the members of the assembly should bring their national identity and assembly cards. Guests of the members will be barred from entering the assembly whereas no member would be allowed to take their mobile phone or carry handbags in the house,” the agenda stated.

A day earlier, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar accepted PTI leader Usman Buzdar's resignation as the chief minister of Punjab, following which the provincial cabinet was dissolved. He had summoned a provincial assembly session for today to elect a replacement.

As both the government and opposition leaders labour to secure the slot of the Punjab chief minister, the joint opposition appeared not only indecisive about their candidature, but also at odds over the coveted post.

Hours after PML-N nominated the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shehbaz, as the joint opposition’s candidate for the slot, the PPP – a major party of the joint opposition – shrugged its shoulders and insisted that Hamza was only PML-N’s candidate and did not represent the joint opposition’s preference for the top slot.

Zulfiqar Ali Badar, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto’s spokesperson, told The Express Tribune that opposition parties have not yet made their decision regarding the CM Punjab slot, adding he was not aware of the PML-N’s announcement.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2350686/no-voting-for-new-punjab-cm-today
 
As both the government and opposition leaders labour to secure the slot of the Punjab chief minister, the joint opposition on Friday appeared not only indecisive about their candidature, but also at odds over the coveted post.

Hours after PML-N nominated the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shehbaz, as the joint opposition’s candidate for the slot, the PPP – a major party of the joint opposition – shrugged its shoulders and insisted that Hamza was only PML-N’s candidate and did not represent the joint opposition’s preference for the top slot.

Zulfiqar Ali Badar, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto’s spokesperson, told the Express Tribune that opposition parties have not yet made their decision regarding the CM Punjab slot, adding he was not aware of the PML-N’s announcement.

When informed of the press conference where the PML-N announced the decision, the PPP spokesperson said that it must be PMLN's “internal decision”.

A source in the PPP said that although Hamza was not the joint opposition’s nominee, given the speed with which things have unfolded in Punjab, PPP does not have much room to manoeuvre. He said that the arrangement envisaged by PML-N - Hamza in Punjab and his father Shehbaz in the Centre - does not suit the narrative of opposition parties.

The PML-N’s decision was announced after a party’s Punjab parliamentary meeting on Friday.

Announcing the decision after the meeting, MPAs Rana Masud and Khawaja Imran Nazir claimed to have the support of the majority for their candidature.

Referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s picking of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the next chief minister, the PML-N leaders pointed to many dissenting factions within the ruling party who were giving a thumbs down to the decision. He claimed that lawmakers of the ruling party were in touch with the PML-N and will vote for their candidate.

Speaking about the Cheena group’s announcement to support Elahi as CM Punjab, the MPAs said the group’s decisions were of a “fickle nature”, hinting at the possibility of them swinging back into line with PML-N. “The PML-N has many surprises in store for PTI and PML-Q.”

Earlier in the day, Hamza Shehbaz had revealed that the opposition parties’ candidate for the top slot of the province would be from PML-N, adding that the party had enough numbers to do so.

Number game

On Friday, a PTI splinter Cheema group comprising around 14 MPAs formally announced their support for Elahi. If the PML-Q leader manages to also woo the Tareen group, then there will be nothing left for the opposition’s candidate to fight for.

Additionally, there were reports that the PML-Q was trying to court the PML-N leaders into voting for Elahi.

The PTI has a total of 183 parliamentarians, while their coalition partner, PML-Q, has ten and the Rah-e-Haq party has one vote.

On the other hand, PML-N has 165 MPAs and the PPP has 7. While five were independent MPA’s, of which according to the Punjab Assembly website, four independent were with the government.

The PML-N, too, has a splinter group led by Sharqpuri of four MPAs while one PPP MPA has also in the past gone astray, which means that the total tally of the opposition without the said votes would be 167. Keeping in view this number game, the PML-N in every case needs to coax 19 PTI MPAs to vote for their candidate.

Earlier in the day, MPA Marghoob Ahmad while talking to The Express Tribune had said that Hamza Shehbaz was the most suitable candidate for the slot. He said there was a consensus in the party that he should be the opposition parties’ candidate. He said that they will keep their opinion before the party leadership in the meeting.

Hamza Shehbaz during the press conference talking about the Tareen group said that they had met with the Tareen faction, and the meeting went well.

He further said that the Tareen group was looking towards the people to make their decision while the people were looking towards PML-N. He also denied the impression of any horse-trading, though he said that they are political people and political options such as seat adjustments can and will be exercised, when and where needed.

Hamza said that the only solution to the existing problem was fresh elections.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2350639/ppp-pml-n-at-odds-over-punjab-cm-slot
 
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Sunday removed Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar hours ahead of the election of the new Punjab chief minister and the voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly.

The decision to sack Sarwar was announced by Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in a tweet in this morning.

Fawad said the new Punjab governor will be announced later. "Till then, the deputy speaker will perform duties as acting governor as per the Constitution," he added.

Sources said the governor was removed on the complaint of Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi. Elahi had accused Sarwar of siding with the Aleem Khan group -- that is supporting PML-N's Hamza Shehbaz against Elahi -- in the election of the Punjab CM.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2350802/govt-removes-punjab-governor-ch-sarwar
 
A session of the Punjab Assembly (PA) was on Sunday adjourned till April 6 (Wednesday) without voting to elect the new leader of the house amid ruckus by opposition and government lawmakers.

The provincial assembly was to vote today to elect the new leader of the house, with PML-Q's PTI-backed Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and PML-N's Hamza Shehbaz, who had secured the support of Jahangir Khan Tarin (JKT) group, expected to go head to head in the race to become the next chief minister.

Ahead of today's Punjab Assembly session, the press gallery of the assembly was locked, barring journalists from covering the proceedings.

The PA session took place at the same time when a National Assembly session was to vote on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. In the end, neither of the two votes took place as the no-trust move in the NA was dismissed by Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, who deemed the resolution in contradiction of Article 5 of the Constitution.

DAWN
 
LAHORE: PML-Q leader and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Sunday claimed to have numbers higher than the Opposition to fight for the chief minister slot.

A session of the Punjab Assembly to elect the new leader of the House was adjourned till April 6 without voting after a fuss by the government and the Opposition.

The PML-Q leader was talking to the media flanked by Muhammad Basharat Raja, Hafiz Ammar Yasir and other members of the Punjab Assembly outside the Assembly when he said that his side was fully prepared against the Opposition.

Talking about the session, he said that after the uproar and commotion of PML-N in the Punjab Assembly, the deputy speaker had no option but to adjourn the session.

He said: “When the election process started, those who were elected on PTI tickets, our people went and told them [Opposition] that this is not your place. When they started coming towards us, the Opposition members attacked them and then everyone saw what happened.”

Parvez said that there is no thought of dissolving the Punjab Assembly. “I have a very old and friendly relationship with Chaudhry Sarwar. Whatever he says, I will not say anything against him. Allah knows what the future of Chaudhry Sarwar will be. The prime minister did me a favour six days ago. You have been enjoying the governorship for three and a half years.”

To a question, the speaker said that Abdul Aleem Khan and Jahangir Tareen have been disengaged. Aleem should quit this job and work for society. The whole scenario will be cleared on April 6, he added.

GEO
 
LAHORE: The political crisis in Punjab took a new turn after the ruling PTI submitted a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari as he decided to summon a session today, instead of April 16.

Following the submission of the motion, PML-Q said that Deputy Speaker Mazari is “no longer authorised” to summon a session.

The move is surprising as Mazari won his provincial assembly seat on a PTI ticket.

The motion was submitted after Deputy Speaker Mazari told Geo News that the secretariat staff of the Punjab Assembly was not “cooperating” with him.

“Punjab Assembly secretariat staff is not cooperating with me,” Mazari told Geo News. He had added that the session called today would happen and he had summoned the Assembly session on the orders of the Supreme Court.

Mazari said that the advocate-general of Punjab had stated before the Supreme Court that the session will be held today.

“I did not consult the Punjab government, PTI or the speaker. I summoned the Assembly session in light of the Supreme Court’s orders,” said Mazari.

Ahead of Mazari’s conversation with Geo News, sources had confirmed that the secretary of the Assembly refused to follow the orders of the deputy speaker.

The sources said that the secretary is refusing to call the session as it cannot be summoned on a “simple piece of paper”.

On the other hand, the spokesperson of the Punjab Assembly, speaker Zain Ali Bhatti, shared that the session will be summoned on April 16.

“Till an official letter is not issued, the first order will remain in place,” said Bhatti. He added that the Assembly is being refurbished due to the damage done to the hall in the last session.

When Mazari was asked a question about the validity of his orders, the deputy speaker said that the “notification was not fake”. He added that the notification summoning the session on April 16 was also issued by him and has been cancelled.

Police deployed outside PA secretariat

On the instructions of Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, a heavy contingent of police has been deployed outside the Assembly secretariat to avoid any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, Elahi also banned the entry of media persons to the provincial assembly, security staff confirmed.

Punjab Assembly session called to elect new CM Punjab today
A crucial session of the Punjab Assembly has been called hurriedly today to elect the new chief minister of the province, Geo News reported.

On Sunday, the Punjab Assembly session had been adjourned until April 6, however, on April 5 advocate general Punjab also assured the Supreme Court that the provincial assembly would conduct a session on April 6 as per the constitution.

Subsequently hours after the advocate general Punjab’s assurance, the provincial assembly session was postponed further till April 16.

The notification for holding the session on April 16 was also issued after Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari approved the order.

In a surprise move, in the wee hours of Wednesday, the Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Dost Mazari called a provincial assembly session to elect a new chief minister of the province today.

A notification has also been issued in this regard, which stated that the "40th session of Punjab Assembly will now be held on Wednesday at 7:30 PM for the election of chief minister of Punjab.”

The political temperature and uncertainty in the country already continue to rise as President dissolved the National Assembly on the PM’s advice, however, both government and opposition are busy in political manoeuvrings for the CM's slot.

Following Pervaiz Elahi's announcement to support the government in the no-trust motion, the PM had asked Usman Buzdar to step down and nominated the PML-Q leader for the CM’s post.

On the other hand, joint opposition including disgruntled PTI leader Aleem Khan and Jahangir Tareen announced full support for PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz.

Number game in Punjab

Both candidates need at least 186 votes in the House of 371 to win the poll for the slot of CM Punjab.

With the house comprising 371 MPAs, the PML-N seems highly optimistic about regaining the crown of Punjab that it lost in 2018.

The Opposition claims that its joint strength comprising its own 160 MPAs (PML-N total strength is 165 out of which five MPAs are siding with the government), seven MPAs of PPP, and the rest from the rebel groups of PTI headed by Jehangir Khan Tareen (JKT) and Abdul Aleem Khan and four out of five independents, stands above 188.

On the other hand, the ruling coalition's candidate has also used his experience and influence in winning the support of JKT group MPAs, and publicly, MPA Rafaqat Gilani, a part of the JKT group has claimed that he was “siding with Imran and cannot leave him in crucial time”.

GEO
 
The Punjab Assembly was sealed on Wednesday, with barbed wires installed atop its boundary walls, amid confusion over the scheduling of a crucial session for the election of the province's new chief minister, DawnNewsTV reported.

The development coincided with the submission of a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari after he said the session for the chief minister's election would take place today at 7:30 pm, but a spokesperson for the provincial assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) denied the development.

Reacting to the development, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari decried that the deputy speaker had been "locked out" of the assembly on the day of voting for the chief minister's election.

The PPP chief said in a tweet: "If it takes 30 seconds to pull off a coup, it should take 30 seconds to undo a coup. Justice delayed is justice denied. After last week's constitutional breakdown in Islamabad, today Punjab deputy speaker was locked out of [the] assembly on [the] day of voting for CM. Barbered [sic] wire around people's house."
 
Pti members now against their own deputy speaker in punajb :))) :))).

Interestingy, the deputy speaker is someone from baluchistan in this assembly
 
Oh my days! No confidence motion against their own deputy speaker.

How I wish, it was speaker (PTI) and then the deputy speaker (PTI) came in and rejected the motion. Would have been drama for the ages.
 
Major said:
Pti members now against their own deputy speaker in punajb :))) :))).

Interestingy, the deputy speaker is someone from baluchistan in this assembly
Click to expand...

He is from Punjab, however is a Punjabi Baloch. Same as Usman Buzdar.
 
Arsal_AK said:
Oh my days! No confidence motion against their own deputy speaker.

How I wish, it was speaker (PTI) and then the deputy speaker (PTI) came in and rejected the motion. Would have been drama for the ages.
Click to expand...

:)) Knowing pti fans they would had cried about it
 
Arsal_AK said:
Oh my days! No confidence motion against their own deputy speaker.

How I wish, it was speaker (PTI) and then the deputy speaker (PTI) came in and rejected the motion. Would have been drama for the ages.
Click to expand...

Reports are that he has defected, so he is not really their own deputy speaker now.
 
After the Punjab Assembly was on Wednesday sealed off with barbed wires and the building's main gate was locked, the opposition lawmakers, led by the PML-N, held a session of their own at a private hotel, with PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz claiming that Hamza Shehbaz had been "elected" as the Punjab chief minister.

The legality of the session and Hamza's subsequent "victory" was unclear as the session was held outside the Punjab Assembly and attended only by opposition lawmakers, while neither Speaker Parvez Elahi nor Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari presided it. Furthermore, no notifications regarding the change of session's venue or Hamza's "victory" were issued by the Punjab Assembly secretariat.

The session was instead presided over by PPP MPA Shazia Abid, who told Dawn.com that she was appointed to the panel of chairmen for the 40th session of the Punjab Assembly on April 3. According to the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab 1997, a member of the panel of chairmen can preside over the session in the absence of speaker and the deputy speaker.

Panel of Chairmen.– (1) At the commencement of a session, the Speaker shall nominate, in order of precedence, from amongst members a panel of not more than four Chairmen and in the absence of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, the member having precedence amongst those present at the sitting shall take the Chair.

It is pertinent to mention that the joint opposition had held a mock session in the National Assembly on Sunday after the actual session was wrapped up by NA Depute Speaker Qasim Khan Suri.

However, in a tweet prior to the commencement of the session, Maryam said that tonight's session would have the backing of the "Constitution and law" and will not just be symbolic.

"The session of the Punjab Assembly that is going to take place presently is not symbolic but a constitutional and legal one," she tweeted. "God willing, the PML-N is going to prove its majority."

She later tweeted that Hamza had been "elected" as Punjab's new chief minister by the opposition members with 199 votes.

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb shared a video of the two PML-N scions greeting and congratulating each other.

Addressing a press conference after the sitting, Maryam and Hamza thanked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's dissident Jahangir Khan Tareen and Aleem Khan groups, the PPP and others for their support.

The two also decried the sealing of the Punjab Assembly and particularly criticised Parvez Elahi for his alleged involvement in the matter.

Hamza challenged the PML-Q leader to contest for chief ministry against him in a fair manner and said Elahi would have to answer for his "black actions".

Reacting to the development, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi, whose father and party leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi is also a candidate for chief ministry, quipped: "Congratulations Hamza sahab for becoming the chief minister of Faletti's Hotel."

Mazari says session can be held anywhere; PA spox questions legality
Earlier, while talking to the media in Lahore, Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari said that an assembly session could be called anywhere.

He said he had consulted legal experts who advised him to carry out the chief minister's election "immediately on today's date".

Mazari alleged the PA Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and his staff were afraid that he would create a dangerous situation for them.

He said he had exercised his authority in accordance with the Constitution as the biggest province of Pakistan was without a chief minister.

It is pertinent to mention that during a Supreme Court hearing earlier in the day, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial was told that the Punjab Assembly staff were not following the directives issued by the deputy speaker. At this, he had remarked that if the system was not cooperating then constitutional officeholders could use their rights.

"The deputy speaker can call the session in Bagh-i-Jinnah if he wants," he said.

However, a Punjab Assembly spokesperson said in a statement that the deputy speaker could not preside over a session of the assembly after the submission of a no-confidence motion against him.

"Constitutionally, the deputy speaker does not have the authority to preside over any session," the spokesperson said, adding that Mazari chairing any assembly session would be in violation of the Constitution.

Punjab Assembly sealed off with barbed wire, gate locked
Earlier, a large contingent of police carrying batons and equipped with shields was deployed outside the actual building of the assembly. Water cannons and Rescue 1122 vehicles were also present outside the assembly's building.

The development coincided with the submission of a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, after he said the session for the chief minister's election would take place tonight at 7:30 pm, but a spokesperson for the provincial assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) denied the development.

Bilawal decries sealing of Punjab Assembly
Reacting to the sealing of the provincial assembly, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari decried that the deputy speaker had been "locked out" of the assembly on the day of voting for the chief minister's election.

The PPP chief said in a tweet: "If it takes 30 seconds to pull off a coup, it should take 30 seconds to undo a coup. Justice delayed is justice denied. After last week's constitutional breakdown in Islamabad, today Punjab deputy speaker was locked out of [the] assembly on [the] day of voting for CM. Barbered [sic] wire around people's house."

Earlier, Maryam announced that she would be reaching the Punjab Assembly at 7pm tonight to support Hamza.

"To stand with Hamza who clearly has the majority, I will be going to [the] Punjab Assembly ijlaas (session) at 7[pm] Insha’Allah," she tweeted.

No-confidence motion submitted against deputy speaker
The resolution seeking the removal of the deputy speaker was filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and PML-Q lawmakers today morning, the PML-Q spokesperson confirmed to Dawn.com. He said the resolution was submitted at the office of the Punjab Assembly's secretary.

The resolution, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, was addressed to the provincial assembly speaker, PML-Q's Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, who is also a candidate for the chief minister.

In the resolution, the lawmakers said Mazari had lost the confidence of the majority of the house and that provincial assembly proceedings were not being carried out according to the Constitution.

They maintained that in light of the "current situation in the country, he (Mazari) had eradicated democratic norms in the provincial assembly of Punjab".

"We, the members of PTI and PML, hereby give notice under 53 (7) (c) read with Article 127 of the Constitution under rule 12 of the Rules of Procedure Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997 for [...] the resolution for removal of the deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly," the motion read.

According to rule 12, a no-confidence motion against a speaker or deputy speaker shall be entered into the provincial assembly's List of Business for the first working day after the expiry of seven days of the receipt of the notice. The rule further says that "no other item shall be included in the List of Business for the day fixed for a motion for leave to move a resolution".

According to the rule, the votes of at least one-fourth of the total members the house will be required for the tabling of the resolution.

The rule further states that the assembly "should not be adjourned until the motion for leave is disposed of or, if the leave is granted [to move the resolution], the resolution has been voted upon".

Article 53 (7) (c) of the Constitution also pertains to the removal of a speaker or deputy speaker, stating that "the office of the speaker or deputy speaker shall become vacant if he is removed from the office by a resolution of the assembly, of which not less than seven days' notice has been given, which is passed by the votes of the majority of the total membership of the assembly."

Following the submission of the no-confidence motion, the PML-Q spokesperson said Mazari no longer had the authority to call an assembly session.

Later, the Punjab Assembly speaker issued a notification, withdrawing all powers delegated to Mazari.

The notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, read: "In suppression of my earlier order and in exercise of the powers vested in me under rule 15 read with rule 235 of the Rules of Procedures of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997, I, Parvez Elahi, speaker [of] the provincial assembly of Punjab, hereby withdraw the powers delegated to Mr deputy speaker in terms of rule 25 of the Rules ibid with immediate effect."

Confusion over the session
On Tuesday, Mazari had moved the assembly session for electing the province's next chief minister to April 16 at 11:30am, citing repair and maintenance work in the assembly hall as the reason.

However, in a late night development, he had superseded his earlier order and summoned the PA to meet at 7:30pm tonight — a development that was denied by a spokesperson for the provincial assembly and the PML-Q.

Speaking to DawnNewsTV, the deputy speaker asserted that the assembly session would be held today. He also accused some PA staff members of playing the "wrong role" in the convening of the session, stating that they were "spreading confusion".

"The session has been scheduled for today in light of the directions of the Supreme Court," he said, adding that the same had been conveyed to Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had dictated an order highlighting the assurance held out by Punjab Advocate General Ahmed Awais that the proceedings of the PA would be conducted today within the ambit of the law and the Constitution.

Mazari said he would play his "constitutional role" in the election for the province's chief minister. He added that he had issued the notification for convening the session today after consulting with his lawyers and stood by it.

Separately, the spokesperson for the PA speaker, claimed that the assembly session would be held on April 16.

"The assembly session has been adjourned till April 16 due to ongoing repair work," Dr Zain Ali said, adding that the assembly hall and the lobby sustained damage due to "commotion".

"The assembly session will not be held today," he concluded.

On Tuesday, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi had told Dawn that the new notification issued by the deputy speaker was ‘fake’ as it did not have a diary number and was written on a plain piece of paper and had asserted that the session would be held on April 16.

Meanwhile, the PML-N has said that its own MPAs as well as dissidents from the PTI will converge at the assembly today to push for convening the session without any delay.

Punjab chief minister election

The provincial assembly has to elect the new leader of the house after Usman Buzdar resigned last month after a no-confidence motion was submitted against him. PML-Q's Elahi and PML-N's Hamza Shehbaz, who has secured the support of PTI's dissident lawmakers, the Jahangir Khan Tarin and Aleem Khan groups, are expected to go head to head in the race to become the next chief minister.

To be elected as chief minister, a candidate will need at least 186 votes in the 371-member house.

In the Punjab Assembly, the PTI has 183 lawmakers, PML-Q 10, PML-N 165, PPP seven, five are independent and one belongs to Rah-i-Haq.

The decisive factor in the election will be the support of the Jahangir Tarin group, which is said to have the votes of at least 16 MPAs.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1683723/hamza-shehbaz-elected-punjab-chief-minister-opposition-claims
 
To me the biggest legend is Elahi, one day I see him with IK next photo op with Opposition lol, then IK again, 😂
 
Things are going to get tough for PTI. There are reports that Jahangir Tareen is returning back to Pakistan and he is going to support PML N.
 
Savak said:
Things are going to get tough for PTI. There are reports that Jahangir Tareen is returning back to Pakistan and he is going to support PML N.
Click to expand...

In what way will they get tougher?
Does Tareen have alot of influence?
 
LAHORE: A sudden change of heart by Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari to convene the Punjab Assembly session through an order on a plain paper further complicated matters for the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and its coalition partner, the PML-Q, who are struggling to get their combined nominee, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, installed as chief minister of the province.

Going against his party line, Mr Mazari had late on Tuesday night superseded his earlier order to postpone the assembly session till April 16, and re-summoned the PA on Wednesday. The fresh order went viral and the opposition braced itself for the much-awaited election of the Punjab chief minister. However, minutes later, the Punjab Assembly secretariat termed the deputy speaker’s order ‘fake’ for not having been issued by the secretariat, and claimed the session would be called on the 16th. However, the PML-N-led opposition doubted the chief minister’s election would be held even on that day. They said similar steps were being taken by the PTI in Punjab the way interim premier Imran Khan had ‘trampled’ the Constitution at the Centre.

With the opposition announcing to converge on the PA on Wednesday to ensure the session was held, the provincial government sprung into action and cordoned off the assembly building with barbed wires, and deployed heavy police and Rangers contingents. Water cannons and emergency rescue service were put on high alert in case of an imminent clash between the government and opposition workers.

However, following Mazari’s Tuesday night order, opposition lawmakers reached the assembly the next day, but were told the directive had no legal value and that they should return on April 16. The lawmakers had a heated argument with police personnel, who had blocked the entrance to the assembly. On this, the lawmakers held a sit-in outside the assembly building and chanted slogans against interim Prime Minister Imran Khan.

A large number of ruling coalition workers had also reached the assembly during the day and staged a protest against Mr Mazari and the opposition’s ‘detention’ of its MPAs in a local hotel. They chanted slogans of “lota” (turncoats).

Later in the evening, the joint opposition held a mock Punjab Assembly session at another hotel and passed a resolution to elect PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz as the new chief minister.

Meanwhile, in a bizarre turn of events, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi used his authority as the Punjab Assembly speaker and ordered “withdrawal of powers delegated to the deputy speaker in terms of Rule 25 of the Rules ibid with immediate effect”. The assembly secretariat released the order through a formal notification.

In another stunning development that followed shortly after, the PML-Q and PTI provincial lawmakers submitted a no-confidence motion against their own Deputy Speaker Mazari to snatch his powers to preside over a session and demanded his removal.

A party insider told Dawn that since Mr Mazari had been running the House in the place of Mr Elahi, the PML-N leadership had been negotiating with him for a couple of weeks to ensure a smooth election of the CM.

“Finally Mazari accepted a ‘good offer’ from PML-N (party ticket for himself and an uncle) and agreed to ditch his party at this crucial juncture. But the PTI-PML-Q coalition had something else in store for him (withdrawal of powers as deputy speaker) to counter his ‘favour’ to the opposition,” he claimed.

In a ***-for-tat move, the opposition PML-N and PPP prepared a no-confidence motion against Mr Elahi, but could not submit it. The members stated in the motion that Mr Elahi had lost confidence of the majority MPs in the assembly and was running the assembly affairs in contravention of the Constitution.

PML-N parliamentary party chief whip Khalil Tahir Sandhu said two assembly officials approached the protesting lawmakers and asked them to hand over the motion. “We insisted that the assembly secretary come out and receive it, but he did not turn up,” he said.

A Punjab Assembly spokesperson told Dawn the assembly officers had gone up to the opposition members at the assembly’s main gate to receive the motion, but they refused to hand it over saying they wanted to enter the premises and submit the motion themselves. They were told the assembly secretariat was closed for the day and that they could not be allowed entry, the spokesperson added.

When told that Mr Mazari was chairing an assembly session at a local hotel, the spokesperson said the deputy speaker had lost the powers to do so after the no-confidence motion against him was submitted. “Him chairing any session will be tantamount to a violation of the law and constitution,” he maintained.

Mr Mazari, however, told the media that a vacuum had been created in the province since Mr Usman Buzdar had resigned as the chief minister. “Since the province’s affairs are not being run smoothly, it is high time a CM is elected,” he added.

Welcoming the no-confidence motion against him, the deputy speaker said he was not afraid and will fight the move. “The government is trying to keep me away from presiding over the chief minister’s election process in the Punjab Assembly,” he remarked, alleging that some forces wanted to derail the legal and constitutional process to create chaos leading to instability in the country.

On the other hand, former provincial minister Fayyazul Hasan Chohan claimed that Mazari had met CM-candidate Hamza Shehbaz a few days ago after which he stopped cooperating with the government in terms of taking action against the dissident PTI members under Article 63A of the Constitution.

He claimed Mr Mazari had issued his own order to call the session on Wednesday on a plain paper allegedly on the instructions of Mr Hamza.

In the rapidly changing political events in the country and change of loyalties, many of the ruling PTI’s senior members had parted ways with the party over allegations of corruption and nepotism and neglect of die-hard workers.

While the Jahangir Tareen group had created its own identity as a dissident group some two years ago and eventually decided to sit with the opposition, former governor Chaudhry Sarwar and former senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan launched separate tirades against the prime minister. Provincial minister Asad Khokhar and the latest Dost Mazari also parted ways with the government.

Sources say Mr Tareen will return to Pakistan on April 12 and begin his political stint with the PML-N after meeting the party leadership in the country.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2022
 
LAHORE: After submitting a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the joint Opposition filed a no-trust motion against Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi on Thursday, The News reported.

Parvez, who is the leader of PML-Q, is running as a candidate for the chief minister slot against PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz.

PML-N MPAs Sami Ullah Khan, Khalil Tahir and Khawaja Salman Rafique filed the resolution to the Punjab Assembly Secretariat. The political crisis in the country deepened after the PTI submitted a no-confidence move against Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari after he summoned a session on April 6 rather than 16. Under the law, he also cannot chair a session.

The assembly will meet on April 16 in which a new CM would be elected.

GEO
 
MenInG said:
LAHORE: After submitting a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the joint Opposition filed a no-trust motion against Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi on Thursday, The News reported.

Parvez, who is the leader of PML-Q, is running as a candidate for the chief minister slot against PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz.

PML-N MPAs Sami Ullah Khan, Khalil Tahir and Khawaja Salman Rafique filed the resolution to the Punjab Assembly Secretariat. The political crisis in the country deepened after the PTI submitted a no-confidence move against Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari after he summoned a session on April 6 rather than 16. Under the law, he also cannot chair a session.

The assembly will meet on April 16 in which a new CM would be elected.

GEO
Click to expand...

Parvez Elahi has pretty much ended his political career with that stupid move.
 
uberkoen said:
Parvez Elahi has pretty much ended his political career with that stupid move.
Click to expand...

Do you feel that in Pakistan politics, there is something called a memory? Goldfish have better ones than people who vote.
 
MenInG said:
Do you feel that in Pakistan politics, there is something called a memory? Goldfish have better ones than people who vote.
Click to expand...

True but he's basically isolated himself from all political parties. PTI went to him out of desperation, they obviously don't want to be allied to him. He's alienated himself from PML and PPP with this move as well as created issues within his own PMLQ. He basically has no where to go anymore.
 
LAHORE: Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz has approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) to seek the judiciary's help to hold the election for the chief minister's office in the province.

The CM's office has been vacant for more than a week since ex-governor Chauahdry Muhammad Sarwar — who was removed from his position last week — accepted Usman Buzdar's resignation on April 1.

Filing an appeal in court, Hamza made Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi, Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari, and Inspector-General of Police Punjab Rao Sardar Ali Khan parties.

In the petition, the Opposition leader said the CM's post remains vacant despite the passage of several days and urged the need to immediately elect someone to the position.

"Assembly secretary and administrative officers are obeying the illegal orders of Parvez Elahi and the Punjab Assembly's session is being delayed without any reason," the petitioner said.

In the petition, Hamza said that under Article 130, the an election for the CM cannot be delayed. He said the parties named in the case are not performing their duties in line with the law.

"Therefore, the court should issue an order at the earliest and make the election possible," he added.

The speaker — a candidate for the CM's post — had on April 6 barred members of the Punjab Assembly and media personnel from entering the building after the deputy speaker had summoned a session for the election of the CM.

The security of the provincial legislature had also put up barbed wires at the main gate of the Assembly.

The move was made after PTI submitted a no-confidence motion against Dost Mohammad Mazari — despite him being a PTI loyalist — as he summoned the session without consulting the party.

Moreover, after submitting a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the joint Opposition filed a no-trust motion against Punjab Assembly's speaker Elahi on Thursday.

GEO
 
uberkoen said:
True but he's basically isolated himself from all political parties. PTI went to him out of desperation, they obviously don't want to be allied to him. He's alienated himself from PML and PPP with this move as well as created issues within his own PMLQ. He basically has no where to go anymore.
Click to expand...

As they say:

You pays your moneys....
 
uberkoen said:
Parvez Elahi has pretty much ended his political career with that stupid move.
Click to expand...

If he cant become CM that should be the end of his alliance with PTI. I certainly hope IK does not forgive him for his blackmail. No seat adjustment for him in the next election.
 
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shahbaz filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday against the transfer of the provincial chief secretary and inspector general police (IGP) a day earlier, questioning how the transfers could take place in the absence of a cabinet.

Terming the transfers illegal and unlawful, Hamza questioned the legality of the postings at a time that a new Punjab chief was yet to be elected.

“These unlawful actions clearly reflect the malice of the Punjab province and blatant, unauthorized and unlawful interference by a regime, which is only competent to make day to day decisions and orders,” he said.

The petition contended that former chief minister Usman Buzdar’s resignation had been accepted on April 1, following which he could only assume the role of a caretaker. The PML-N leader stated that the transfers of such officers could only be made in consultation with the provincial government.

It added that the provincial government did not exist therefore, such appointments were made without lawful authorities.

The petition further maintains that in the past the practice of transfers during the election process had always been deprecated and set aside by courts.

It reiterated that the reappointments were illegal considering the process of electing a chief minister of Punjab was still pending, particularly after the LHC took notice of the delay in electing a chief minister.

“It is, therefore, most respectfully prayed that illegal and unlawful transfer and postings of the Chief Secretary Punjab and IGP may kindly be stayed and respondents may kindly be restrained from taking any such illegal actions during the process of the election of the CM Punjab,” the petition stated.

LHC takes notice of delay

The LHC on Friday summoned the Punjab Assembly secretary along with the relevant record pertaining to the election of the provincial chief minister.

Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti heard separate petitions filed by PML-N leader Hamza ShAhbaz and Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.

However, Justice Bhatti turned down the request of Mazari's counsel seeking entry into the Punjab Assembly. “Let the record be produced before the court to pass an appropriate order in this regard,” the LHC CJ said.

Hamza had urged the court to declare authorities concerned to convene the session of the assembly at the earliest for voting on the CM seat while Mazari had sought cancellation of the PA speaker’s ruling that had stripped him of his acting speaker's powers.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2351698/hamza-files-petition-in-lhc-against-unlawful-transfers
 
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday instructed Punjab Assembly speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Mazari and Leader of the Opposition in PA Hamza Shahbaz to mutually finalise a date for the election of the chief minister.

"All of them should sit in the office of the Punjab advocate-general and solve the matter amicably," Justice Amir Bhatti said. "Remember that we are all residents of this country. Don't create a scene outside. Solve the problem at home, together."

His remarks had come as the court took up Hamza's petition which had sought its help in holding elections for Punjab's new chief minister in a "fair and transparent" manner. Earlier, the LHC CJ had clubbed Elahi's petition in the case as well, which had accused the PML-N leader of holding MPAs hostage.

During the hearing, referring to the April 3 PA session, the judge remarked that the question in front of the court was whether an assembly sitting to elect the CM could be adjourned. "We have to ask relevant authorities about the process of the CM election."

In his arguments, PML-N's counsel Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the post of Punjab CM had been empty since the resignation of Usman Buzdar. "Right now, the province doesn't have an executive," he said.

Consequently, the judge directed the PA secretary to brief the court about the election record.

He replied that after Buzdar's resignation on April 1, the process of election started the next day. "On April 2, the scrutiny [of candidates] was completed and nomination papers were accepted as well."

On April 3, the secretary continued, a session — led by Mazari — was called, but it was adjourned till April 6 after a fight broke out between the women MPAs inside the assembly hall.

"Do you have a video of the fight," the LHC CJ asked.

The secretary replied in the affirmative and continued that on April 4 he had sent a report on the damages inside the PA to the speaker who then further adjourned the session.

"But on April 6, a notification issued by Mazari started doing rounds on social media. It said that a session was being called in the evening," he said, adding that the Assembly Secretariat wasn't informed about it despite repeated calls to the deputy speaker.

Consequently, he added, the speaker striped Mazari of his powers.

Here, Justice Bhatti asked the reason behind the speaker's actions. "You didn't receive the notification ... This means no process was to take place."

The secretary replied that later a no-confidence motion had been moved against the deputy speaker. "When this happens, the deputy speaker can't chair the session."

'Can CM election be postponed?'
The judge asked again whether it was legally possible to postpone the election for the chief minister. "Apparently, it isn't allowed," he observed and then wondered if nomination papers could be submitted a day before the poll.

Ali Zafar, counsel of PML-Q, revealed that the papers could be submitted any day before the election.

But the LHC CJ said that the rules "mention hours not days". He also asked if the speaker had the right to suspend the deputy speaker's powers if the former was contesting elections.

"The main question is that under what law was the date of election changed," he said. "How can someone violate the election schedule and give a date of their own?"

For his part, Zafar said that the court could not intervene in the matters of the assembly. "The issue was brought up in the Supreme Court but no order was passed," he added.

Consequently, Punjab Advocate-General Ahmed Owais took the rostrum. "I had said [in the SC] that no one could exceed the powers in the law."

But the PML-N counsel contended that the apex court had said that it was a provincial matter and should be taken to the high court.

Here, the advocate-general brought up PML-N's mock assembly session at a private hotel in Lahore but Nazeer argued that the meeting was just "symbolic". "There was not even a peon of the assembly there," he added.

'Voting should be held as soon as possible'
After the arguments, Justice Bhatti observed that election rules were formed for a reason. "You can't follow or break the rules whenever you want to," he said, adding that even the SC had ruled that the no-confidence movement couldn't be extended.

"It had emphasised that voting should be held," the LHC CJ recalled and reiterated that the assembly had no other option than to follow the rules.

He also asked why the election had to be delayed till April 16. "There's no reason to extend this. Hold the voting in a day or two. Hold it as soon as possible."

The judge, consequently, adjourned the hearing till 2pm and instructed all the respondents to chalk out a plan on the election together and present it in the court.

Punjab CM election
The Punjab Assembly has to elect the new leader of the house after Usman Buzdar resigned last month. PML-Q's Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and PML-N's Hamza, who has secured the support of PTI's dissident lawmakers — the Jahangir Khan Tarin and Aleem Khan groups — are expected to go head to head in the race to become the next chief minister.

To be elected as chief minister, a candidate will need at least 186 votes in the 371-member house.

In the Punjab Assembly, the PTI has 183 lawmakers, PML-Q 10, PML-N 165, PPP seven, five are independent and one belongs to Rah-i-Haq.

The decisive factor in the election will be the support of the Jahangir Tarin group, which is said to have the votes of at least 16 MPAs.

On Thursday, the opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against Elahi, who is also the PA speaker, further squeezing space for the provincial government to play its cards.

After the apex court’s decision on Thursday, where it nullified the National Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the ruling coalition in Punjab has once again warned its MPAs against voting for Hamza or they would be de-seated.

In the National Assembly, the joint opposition did not need the dissident PTI MNAs to oust PM Imran as it had the required numbers, including the support of the former government’s allies. But in the PA, the opposition needs the backing of a good number of PTI dissenters to install its chief minister.

On Wednesday, the PML-N-led opposition had been barred from entering the PA, as it was sealed after Elahi decla*red Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari’s ‘order’ to summon the session ‘illegal’.

According to the assembly secretariat, the session would be convened on April 16 as per an earlier notification of the assembly signed by the deputy speaker. Elahi had used his authority as the spe*aker and ordered withdrawal of powers delegated to Mazari with immediate effect.

Mazari’s power to preside over a session was also snatched following the submission of a no-confidence motion against him by his own fellow lawmakers in the PTI-PML-Q coalition. His sudden change of heart was termed the ‘handiwork’ of the PML-N leadership that allegedly wooed him through a ‘good offer’.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1684496/lhc-instructs-hamza-elahi-to-mutually-decide-date-for-cm-election
 
ISLAMABAD: PML-Q has again contacted former president Asif Ali Zardari seeking People’s Party’s support in the election of Chief Minister of Punjab, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

PML-Q MNAs Tariq Bashir Cheema and Salik Hussain have contacted the PPP co-chairman and delivered a message from Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz Elahi for support in the chief minister’s election, sources said.

It is pertinent to mention here that PML-Q’s Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has been pitched against the PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz in the upcoming election of the chief minister Punjab, the Pakistan’s largest province.

PPP leader while smiling on the request avoided to give any reply to the PML-Q leaders’, sources said.

According to sources, PML-Q leaders have also made individual contacts with the PPP members of Punjab Assembly, who replied that any decision will be taken by Asif Ali Zardari.

PML-Q delegation took their leave after congratulating Asif Ali Zardari over success of the no-confidence motion.

Meanwhile, People’s Party Punjab parliamentary leader Hassan Murtaza has denied any contact made by the PML-Q with the PPP parliamentary party.

“The party’s leadership takes decisions, not the workers,” Murtaza said. “Reputation counts much in the politics and decisions won’t change on daily basis,” he said.

“People’s Party has suffered much due to its principled politics,” he added.

https://arynews.tv/pml-q-seeks-ppp-support-punjab-cm-election/
 
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved its decision on Tuesday on the petition filed in the court seeking its intervention over the election of the Punjab chief minister as the PML-N, PML-Q, and Punjab Assembly secretariat could not decide on a "neutral" person to chair the session to elect the CM.

A day earlier, LHC CJ Ameer Bhatti had instructed the political parties to decide on the course of action for the CM's election to break the deadlock.

During the proceedings, the LHC CJ asked who will preside over the assembly session since Speaker Pervaiz Elahi was a nominee for the CM seat. He observed that as per the assembly rules, Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari is supposed to chair the session.

However, the counsel for the PML-Q opposed this on grounds of a no-confidence motion against Mazari. He added that the deputy speaker moved the LHC, this becoming a party to the case, which made him further controversial.

Speaker Elahi’s counsel Barrister Ali Zafar said the matter in the assembly was beyond the jurisdiction of the court and that it should be resolved as per the rules of the Punjab Assembly. He added that the summoning of the house, its adjournment, and withdrawal did not concern the court as it was only a procedural issue, not a constitutional one.

The counsels for the PML-Q, PA Secretariat, and the PA speaker did not reach a compromise over a new date for the session with the PML-N. However, they assured the court that the session to elect the CM will take place on April 16.

PML-N counsel Azam Nazir Tarrar apprised the bench that the Constitution did not stop the deputy speaker from presiding the house as he referred to the NA speaker chairing the session to elect the PM despite a no-confidence motion against him.

According to the counsels representing the PML-Q, PA Secretariat, and Elahi, the powers of Speaker Elahi would be delegated to the deputy speaker on the day of the election but as the deputy speaker was "controversial" at this point so a lawmaker from the four-member panel of chairman will preside over the session.

At this, PML-N lawyer Tarrar raised objections, saying the PTI lawmaker Mian Shafi, the member of the panel of chairman, was not acceptable to the PML-N just like the deputy speaker was not acceptable to the PML-Q.

The high court asked for more suggestions. The PML-N counsel suggested that an independent candidate could chair the session as they did not belong to any party. However, this suggestion was rejected as well. The court after hearing detailed arguments reserved the decision. The decision is likely to be announced today.

Express Tribune
 
LAHORE: The election for the new chief minister of Punjab will take place today (Saturday) at the provincial assembly at 11:30am, Radio Pakistan reported.

The session where the members of the Punjab Assembly will vote to elect the new provincial chief will be chaired by Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari.

A tough competition is expected between the two candidates — Hamza Shahbaz and Parvez Elahi. Hamza is the candidate of PML-N and other coalition parties, while PML-Q's Elahi is being backed by PTI.

The April 16 session will be held in line with the Lahore High Court's (LHC) Wednesday order, wherein it rejected Hamza's plea to hold the early elections and restored the powers of the deputy speaker.

The deputy speaker — whose powers were withdrawn last week — was asked by the court to hold the polls on April 16.

The CM's office has been vacant for nearly two weeks since ex-governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar — who was removed from his position last week — accepted Usman Buzdar's resignation on April 1.

In a symbolic session of the provincial assembly, the Opposition elected PML-N leader Hamza as the chief minister after Speaker Elahi sealed off the Punjab Assembly on April 6.

GEO
 
In view of the prevailing economic crisis and a tough time given by the PTI, Punjab Assembly Speaker and PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday took a dig at the PML-N saying the leaders of the party were “lying on a burning griddle”.

Elahi clarified that he had not withdrawn from the Punjab chief minister contest, maintaining that elections for the slot were not held.

“They (PML-N) do not stand anywhere because he (Hamza) has not even taken oath [as Punjab chief minister]. We will give them a surprise in Punjab as we did earlier,” he said.

The PML-Q leader maintained that the Sharifs had lost the “game in Centre” and were now “lying on a burning griddle”.

He claimed that the PML-N had lost popularity among masses and was not a “failed” party.

Speaking about the Punjab Assembly chaos during the election of the chief minister on April 16, Elahi said never had it happened in the history that police entered the assembly and took the law in their hands.

He said the British high commissioner came to him and recalled that such an incident occurred in England 100 years ago but the king at the time tendered an apology for the violence.

Elahi alleged that Hamza had ordered an attack on him on April 16. “But when he (Hamza) was in trouble, I issued his production order.”

Express Tribune
 
After back to back decisions of the Supreme Court and Election Commission of Pakistan pertaining to PTI dissidents who stand disqualified and de-seated, Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has reaffirmed that he is former prime minister Imran Khan’s candidate who will “dissolve the assembly within half an hour if the PTI chairman asks him to once he takes oath as the governor.”

Lambasting Jahangir Tareen and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz during an exclusive interview with Express News on Friday, for spending a lot of money but to no avail, Elahi said turncoats who happen to be the members of the assembly have no political future.

“First of all, I am thankful to Allah Almighty,” he said, congratulating the election commission for strengthening the foundations of democracy.

The Punjab speaker added that PTI dissidents have become a warning sign for others and are left with no political future. “Tareen and Hamza threw a lot of money but the money did not help them.”

Responding to a question about Hamza becoming the CM, he said when the foundation of any work is weak it is like a house built on sand. “Those who built such a house would be buried in it and their name and mark would disappear.”

Elahi emphasised how he had been saying from day one that the CM election was wrong and even his oath taking. “Now it has been proved,” he said, adding that the next step would be to pick them up and throw them out.

Express Tribune
 
LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has once again convened a meeting of the provincial assembly today (Sunday) in a surprise move ahead of the previous date fixed for the session, The News reported. The assembly was previously slated to meet on May 30.

This is the third time that the date of the PA session has been changed as the speaker first gave the date of May 16 when the assembly was scheduled to meet in the first week of May. However, the session wasn't held on the given date and rescheduled for May 30.

Given the dramatic change in the numbers game in the PA after the Election Commission of Pakistan's decision to de-seat the dissident PTI MPAs, Elahi called the assembly meeting just on the notice of one day.

GEO
 
Punjab Assembly official reportedly arrested ahead of today's session

A Punjab Assembly official was reportedly taken into police custody on Sunday ahead of today's hurriedly called session.

The session is scheduled to begin at 12:30pm and the no-confidence motions against Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari are part of the day's agenda.

A spokesperson for the Punjab Assembly confirmed reports of the arrest of Secretary Coordination Rai Mumtaz. In a statement, the spokesperson claimed that police officials entered Mumtaz's home after scaling the walls.

Punjab Assembly Secretary Coordination Rai Mumtaz. — Photo provided by author
He alleged that police officials also conducted a raid at the home of Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti and Director General (Parliamentary Affairs & Research) Inayatullah Lak, but were unable to arrest the two.

Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi condemned the police action and claimed that it was being carried out on the orders of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He also termed the government's actions "fascist".

"After violating the sanctity of the House, the government is making use of new tactics," he said, adding that the action against officials of the Punjab Assembly was proof that the government was "panicking".

"The unconstitutional and fake government is taking steps against the Constitution and law," he stated, adding that the "true face" of the Sharifs had been unmasked before the people.

A number of police personnel were deployed outside the assembly gates, equipped with riot control gear. "Let's see who prevents the elected members from entering the assembly," Elahi said.

He directed MPAs to reach the Assembly Secretariat by 12 o'clock. The session is expected to begin half an hour afterwards.

"We will fight against government fascism," he stressed. "No one can stop the elected representatives from entering the assembly."

On Saturday, Elahi had rescheduled the assembly session from May 30 to May 22 (today), after 25 dissident PTI MPAs who had voted for Hamza Shehbaz for CM office against their party direction were de-seated.

Though no formal agenda was issued till Saturday evening, the swift action by Speaker Elahi shows the numbers game now suits him for his run-off election as chief minister.

The assembly’s current strength has reduced to 346 members after the de-seating of the 25 MPAs. The PML-N has 165 MPAs of whom five Sharaqpuri group members recently withdrew their support. Besides the backing of its 160 MPAs, the PML-N has seven PPP MPAs, four independents and one Rah-i-Haq Party MPA on its side. This shows PML-N has 172 votes.

On the other hand, Elahi’s PML-Q and his ally PTI have a total strength of 168, but the PTI-PML-Q alliance believes they will get all the five women and minority seats whereas the PML-N claims two reserved seats will come to it.

Dawn News
 
Police stop MPAs from entering Punjab Assembly ahead of session

The provincial police have sealed the Punjab Assembly on Sunday acting on the alleged directives of Speaker Pervaiz Elahi to stop lawmakers from entering the assembly ahead of the session rescheduled by Elahi a day earlier.

It has not been confirmed yet as to who issued these instructions to seal the premises but the PML-N lawmakers believe these orders were issued by Elahi as “only the speaker has the authority to make such decisions”.

Interestingly, both the PML-N and the PTI lawmakers were locked out of the assembly as they demanded the assembly officials let them in so they could attend the session.

In a video, a lawmaker could be heard saying that whoever issued these orders to seal the assembly, the speaker or the secretary, committed an illegal act.

According to details, barbed wire has also been placed around the assembly to discourage the entry of MPAs or other assembly officials.

The deployment of the police force on the premises came a day after Elahi changed the date of the session from May 30 to May 22.

Elahi made the decision after the de-seating of the 25 lawmakers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that had voted for Hamza Shehbaz in the elections for the seat of the Punjab CM. The probability for Elahi, a joint candidate of the PTI-PML-Q alliance for the CM post, to become the chief minister, especially after the de-seating of dissident MPAs, has considerably increased. However, the PML-N is sure of retaining the top slot.

Police nab PA official

Earlier in the day, the Punjab police took a high-level official of the Punjab Assembly Secretariat into custody hours ahead of the hurriedly-called session by Elahi. Rai Mumtaz, who is director general of parliamentary affairs of the assembly, was detained after police officials scaled the walls of his residence to make the arrest.

Meanwhile, the police also raided the residences of PA Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti and Coordination Secretary Inayatullah but failed to detain them as both of them were not present at their homes. The police allegedly ransacked their houses as well.

The arrest of the assembly official was condemned by PA Speaker Pervaiz Elahi who said the provincial government led by CM Hamza Shehbaz had resorted to pressure tactics against the Opposition. He alleged the PML-N government was violating the Constitution through such acts, adding that the Sharifs have also been exposed in front of the nation through such actions.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357790/police-stop-mpas-from-entering-punjab-assembly-ahead-of-session
 
Punjab Assembly de-sealed after MPAs protest, session to begin shortly

LAHORE:
The Punjab Assembly will convene its session shortly, with no-confidence motions against Speaker Pervaiz Elahi and Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari on the agenda, after the police allowed the MPAs to enter the assembly despite their initial refusal.

Source: tribune
 
LAHORE: A no-confidence motion against Speaker Punjab Assembly Parvez Elahi has been wrapped up by a member of the panel of chair over the absence of the mover of the no-trust move, ARY NEWS reported.

The panel of chair initiated the proceedings of the provincial assembly and called out the mover of the no-confidence motion. However, after repeated calls, the mover did not turn up, resulting in disposing off the no-trust motion against Speaker Parvez Elahi.

As soon as the motion was disposed-off, the PML-N lawmakers entered the House. However, the panel of chair adjourned the proceedings for June 06.

Earlier in the day, police took control of the Punjab Assembly building and personnel have been deployed at all entrances of the house ahead of Sunday’s session.

Punjab Assembly session has been summoned to meet at 12pm by Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in a surprise move ahead of the previous date fixed for the session. The assembly was previously slated to meet on May 30.

This is the third time that the date of the PA session has been changed as the speaker first gave the date of May 16 when the assembly was scheduled to meet in the first week of May. However, the session wasn’t held on the given date and was rescheduled for May 30.

Speaker Pervaiz Elahi has directed the members of the Punjab Assembly to reach the Secretariat. He said that the members of the assembly should reach the Punjab Assembly at 12 o’clock.

https://arynews.tv/no-trust-motion-against-pa-speaker-parvez-elahi-disposed-off/
 
PTI nominates Elahi for Punjab CM

Islamabad, July 19 (UNI) A day after PTI’s resounding victory in the by-elections held in 20 constituencies of Punjab, the party has nominated Chaudhry Parvez Elahi as their candidate for the office of chief minister of Punjab, Dawn reported on Tuesday.

In a meeting of the party chaired by PTI chairman Imran Khan and attended by senior party leaders the PTI core committee, the decision to nominate Chaudhry Parvez Elahi as the Chief Minister of Punjab was endorsed.

The political landscape of Punjab has completely changed in the wake of results of bye-polls held on 20 seats in which PTI got 15 seats, PML-N managed to get four and an Independent candidate also won one seat in Lodhran.

The participants also reviewed the future organizational and political strategy of the PTI and decided that attention will be given to local and by-elections in the province of Sindh.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has renewed his demand for snap polls to end the political turmoil in the country, while also calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, saying that the “the biggest party of Pakistan [PTI] does not trust” the head of the commssion calling him “incompetent” and “dishonest” and reiterated the allegation that he had joined hands with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

UNI ACL
 
Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Tuesday accused Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah of using the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to “trace the location” of legislators with the intent to influence them ahead of the chief minister’s election on July 22.

The Supreme Court had on July 1 ruled that a new Punjab chief minister election would take place on July 22 and said incumbent Hamza Shehbaz would remain in office till then as it heard the PTI and the PML-Q’s pleas against Hamza’s election and oath-taking.

Addressing a press conference alongside PTI and PML-Q leaders in Lahore, Elahi, who is himself is a candidate for top slot, said IB Director General Fawad Asadullah “must refrain from such acts as he was monitoring the locations of PML-Q and PTI lawmakers at the behest of Shehbaz Sharif and Sanaullah”.

“It is my warning to the IB head that he must stop doing this.”

He went on to allege that PM Shehbaz had “formed a cell” specifically for the purpose to keep watch on rival MPAs as the chief minister’s election approaches.

“They lost the public trust and now they are resorting to such cheap tactics,” Elahi added.

In response to a question on whether any “other forces” were backing the IB, the PML-Q leader said “only the prime minister is backing it”.

He also claimed that a man associated with the PML-Q who had businesses overseas was also recently picked by the IB from the Lahore airport “for no reason”.

Elahi endorsed as CM nominee by PTI

PTI leader Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, who was seated next to Elahi, informed reporters that the party had endorsed Elahi as its nominee for the Punjab chief minister.

“A letter has been dispatched to all lawmakers at the directives of party chief Imran Khan and the party members will reach Lahore tonight for a meeting which will be held tomorrow.”

He said Imran will also reach Lahore tomorrow and stay in the provincial capital for the next two days.

He was of the view that PTI had the support of 188 MPAs while the PML-N had 173 to 174 lawmakers, emphasising the gap could never be filled.

Rasheed said free and fair polls were the only solution and warned that the political situation would deteriorate further if any “intervention” was made in the elections.

‘Misuse of police authority won’t be forgiven’

Speaking on the occasion, PML-Q leader Amir Saeed Rawn said it the manner in which the IB was being used was “shocking”.

He said the man detained by the IB from the Lahore airport on June 19 “was forced to give a statement that Parvez Elahi is involved in money laundering”.

Rawn also warned the police to desist from misusing their authority, saying “a list will be prepared after July 22 and no one will be forgiven”.

DAWN
 
MenInG said:
Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Tuesday accused Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah of using the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to “trace the location” of legislators with the intent to influence them ahead of the chief minister’s election on July 22.

The Supreme Court had on July 1 ruled that a new Punjab chief minister election would take place on July 22 and said incumbent Hamza Shehbaz would remain in office till then as it heard the PTI and the PML-Q’s pleas against Hamza’s election and oath-taking.

Addressing a press conference alongside PTI and PML-Q leaders in Lahore, Elahi, who is himself is a candidate for top slot, said IB Director General Fawad Asadullah “must refrain from such acts as he was monitoring the locations of PML-Q and PTI lawmakers at the behest of Shehbaz Sharif and Sanaullah”.

“It is my warning to the IB head that he must stop doing this.”

He went on to allege that PM Shehbaz had “formed a cell” specifically for the purpose to keep watch on rival MPAs as the chief minister’s election approaches.

“They lost the public trust and now they are resorting to such cheap tactics,” Elahi added.

In response to a question on whether any “other forces” were backing the IB, the PML-Q leader said “only the prime minister is backing it”.

He also claimed that a man associated with the PML-Q who had businesses overseas was also recently picked by the IB from the Lahore airport “for no reason”.

Elahi endorsed as CM nominee by PTI

PTI leader Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, who was seated next to Elahi, informed reporters that the party had endorsed Elahi as its nominee for the Punjab chief minister.

“A letter has been dispatched to all lawmakers at the directives of party chief Imran Khan and the party members will reach Lahore tonight for a meeting which will be held tomorrow.”

He said Imran will also reach Lahore tomorrow and stay in the provincial capital for the next two days.

He was of the view that PTI had the support of 188 MPAs while the PML-N had 173 to 174 lawmakers, emphasising the gap could never be filled.

Rasheed said free and fair polls were the only solution and warned that the political situation would deteriorate further if any “intervention” was made in the elections.

‘Misuse of police authority won’t be forgiven’

Speaking on the occasion, PML-Q leader Amir Saeed Rawn said it the manner in which the IB was being used was “shocking”.

He said the man detained by the IB from the Lahore airport on June 19 “was forced to give a statement that Parvez Elahi is involved in money laundering”.

Rawn also warned the police to desist from misusing their authority, saying “a list will be prepared after July 22 and no one will be forgiven”.

DAWN
Click to expand...

Nooras and their intimidation tactics. Rana the Qatil warning the PTI that 5 people can be made to disappear.. [MENTION=135038]Major[/MENTION] remember when you went on about the constitution. In which constitution are disappearances of law makers allowed? If you had any doubt that you are supporting a criminal enterprise, well, that should have been erased by now
 
Pervaiz Elahi files contempt plea against Rana Sanaullah, Hamza Shahbaz, Marriyum Aurangzeb
Pervaiz Elahi moved the Supreme Court Tuesday to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif for violating its order passed on July 1

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi moved the Supreme Court Tuesday to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif for violating its order passed on July 1.

Pervaiz Elahi filed a petition in the Supreme Court under Article 204 of the Constitution read with sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003. He prayed the court to summon the respondents and punish them for violating its July 1 order on a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf challenging the order of the Lahore High Court.

Pervaiz Elahi submitted that the election on 20 vacant seats had been held accordingly and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) i.e. the allied party of the petitioner secured the requisite majority according to the unofficial results of the election and the petitioner and his allies were in comfortable position to form the government in the province as decided by the sovereigns of the state, the public at large.

He informed the court that in pursuant to the order of the august court, preparation for the election of the chief minister of Punjab was underway without any hurdle and the petitioner was determined to hold elections and business of assembly in a peaceful, just, transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution and the law strictly as well as in accordance with spirit of the court order.

“The respondents after losing the majority in the house have become unnerved and showing extreme anger and frustration,” Elahi submitted, adding that Hamza Shehbaz Sharif acting in a reckless, unconstitutional and unlawful manner threatened to remove members belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its allies.

He further submitted that Hamza had blatantly flouted the directions by appearing in a press conference on July 18, along with Minister of Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb.

He stated, “The statement of Rana Sanaullah abuses, interferes with and obstructs the process of the court as the same is to be considered as obstruction to the implementation of the court order and it amounted to creating constitutional vacuum, anomaly or complication, and would keep the citizens of Punjab deprived of due representation and governance.”

Pervaiz Elahi submitted that the court had also directed the state functionaries to refrain from any interference, inducement or influence in the affairs to any person (natural as well as legal) in the process of by-elections. “The threatening statements by the Interior Minister has caused great fear and hostility towards members of the allied parties”, he submitted.

He further submitted that Hamza Shehbaz Sharif had categorically assured the august court for peaceful election of the chief minister on behalf of his party as well, therefore, he was fully responsible for any disregard of the order passed by the august court in letter and spirit and being the head of the provincial administration he was responsible to provide fair, free and just conditions to hold elections strictly in accordance with the direction passed by the court.

On July 1, a three-member bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice Umer Ata Bandial, had held that the re-election of chief minister would be held on July 22 after by-elections on 20 seats of the Punjab Assembly after the ECP had de-seated 20 MPAs of PTI for defection.

The News PK
 
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president and veteran politician Cha*udhry Shujaat Hussain on Wednesday reiterated his support for his cousin Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in the upcoming election for the Punjab chief minister.

The election will take place on July 22.

It is noteworthy that Shujaat is aligned with the ruling coalition in the Centre, and his son, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, is a member of Shehbaz Sharif's cabinet.

In a policy statement issued by the PML-Q, Shujaat said Elahi was the party's candidate for the top office, adding that "those who won the mandate have the right to govern".

The PML-Q president pointed out that he had made similar statements multiple times in the past as well.

In response to reports that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had asked Shujaat to write a letter instructing PML-Q MPAs not to vote for Elahi, Shujaat said there was "no question" of issuing a letter.

"I do not need to clarify. The solution to the country's problems lies in not getting involved in cycles of counting [votes]," he said while referring to the election for the chief minister.

"Whoever succeeds in solving the problems of the poor will have completed his numbers in the true sense," Shujaat said in his statement.

"Those who are elected should serve the people."

Shujaat said the solution to the country's problems was to either let the incumbent government stay for a year or more till the general elections or hold fresh elections immediately.

The election for the Punjab chief minister will be held on July 22.

After the Supreme Court's verdict that defectors' votes would not be counted in the election of the prime minister or chief minister and the resignation of two PML-N MPAs, incumbent Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz had lost his majority in the 371-strong house.

He is certain to lose his office to Elahi after failing to win 11 seats to achieve a majority in the Punjab Assembly where the joint opposition (PTI and PML-Q) now has 188 members after the recent by-polls.

PTI-PML-Q meeting
Separately, PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and PML-Q's Chaudhry Parvez Elahi met on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming re-election.

Former Punjab governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema, Mehmoodur Rasheed and recently elected MPAs also participated in the meeting, according to a statement issued afterwards.

Elahi noted that the joint opposition had the majority in the Punjab Assembly and vowed to "defeat every effort to kidnap or harass MPAs".

For his part, Qureshi said the majority in the provincial assembly was standing with PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his nominated candidate.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Lahore, Qureshi clarified that his son Zain Qureshi was not a contender for speaker Punjab Assembly or chief minister, adding the party had already named Elahi as candidate for the position of the provincial chief executive.

He also insisted that the PTI had the required strength of MPAs to elect new chief minister.

Coalition vows to 'salvage' Punjab govt
A day earlier, the top leadership of the ruling coalition got together in Lahore for an ‘introspective’ huddle, resolving to save the Punjab government at any cost and announce the next general elections after completing the current assembly’s term till August 2023.

The coalition partners put their weight behind Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in launching ‘concrete efforts’ and exploring all possible ways to save his son Hamza’s office of the Punjab chief minister from the joint PTI-PML-Q candidate Elahi.

Leaders of the main coalition parties – PML-N, PPP and JUI-F – told PM Shehbaz to pull up his socks and, come what may, not hand over Punjab to the PTI-PML-Q without a tough fight. “Hamza should not resign. The coalition will explore ways to retain him as the CM at all costs,” the source quoted a participant of the meeting as having said.

Separately, PPP’s Zardari met Shujaat at the latter’s residence in Lahore and reportedly sought his help to save Hamza in the run-off election.

Shujaat’s son Salik Hussain and PML-Q leader Tariq Bashir Cheema are part of Shehbaz’s cabinet.

The PML-Q has 10 MPAs in the Punjab Assembly, and Zardari reportedly asked Shujaat to side with the ruling coalition.
 
MenInG said:
No, he is a low class criminal who needs to be shown his place in life.
Click to expand...

He has laready scared sheikh rasheed and fawad chaudry. Lets see what pti can do...

Meanwhile if i was a pti supporter, i would be more worried about my mpas that could be vanished
 
Major said:
He has laready scared sheikh rasheed and fawad chaudry. Lets see what pti can do...

Meanwhile if i was a pti supporter, i would be more worried about my mpas that could be vanished
Click to expand...

You mean kidnapped or murdered? Dont think given the quality of people we are dealing with that this would be a shock.
 
Major said:
He has laready scared sheikh rasheed and fawad chaudry. Lets see what pti can do...

Meanwhile if i was a pti supporter, i would be more worried about my mpas that could be vanished
Click to expand...

It's easy scare people with thugs and criminals. Especially as they can't hit back as they will be locked up. But remember your little escapade will end, and Rana will have to face the music. And IA this time AZ and Billo will be dealt with. Your game will end soon and you will have to play the Sindh card again and again. It can only work for so long.
 
Major said:
He has laready scared sheikh rasheed and fawad chaudry. Lets see what pti can do...

Meanwhile if i was a pti supporter, i would be more worried about my mpas that could be vanished
Click to expand...

These are pyrrhic victories. Any time an election is held you would need to stuff the ballots by more than 10,000 votes. You are 2 small regional parties with no support, relying on intimidation, rigging and murder to survive.
 
Major said:
He has laready scared sheikh rasheed and fawad chaudry. Lets see what pti can do...

Meanwhile if i was a pti supporter, i would be more worried about my mpas that could be vanished
Click to expand...

Why is the Interior Min threatening to kidnap people? Are you so desperate that you lost all hope of winning the publics confidence. The public is with Kaptaan
 
The Supreme Court will take up on Thursday a contempt of court petition against Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb for allegedly threatening to make PTI MPAs disappear before the July 22 election for a new CM.

The petitioner — Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi — recalled a press conference addressed by the two ministers on Monday (July 18) in which Rana Sanaullah said: “We will not let Elahi become the CM easily. If five to seven PTI lawmakers don’t come to the (Punjab) assembly on the voting day (July 22), how will the PTI have its chief minister.”

The petition was taken up by a two-judge Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar on Wednesday. Soon after the hearing started, the court asked Babar Awan, Mr Elahi’s counsel, to furnish a transcript of the press conference.

After the counsel complied with the SC order, the apex court decided to begin hearing the petition on Thursday (today).

Parvez Elahi, the petitioner, accused the respondents of violating the July 1 Supreme Court order that Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz must remain within the confines of the Constitution and the law “without incidence of harassment of political opponents or witch-hunting” in the run-up to the election for next head of the provincial government on July 22.

The petitioner argued the PTI and its allies had secured a comfortable majority in Punjab Assembly after the July 17 by-elections for 20 seats and were in a position to form the provincial government.

The results have unnerved the PML-N and its cadres “are now resorting to unconstitutional and unlawful actions”.

“They (Rana Sanaullah and other PML-N officials) are hreatening to `disappear’ members (Punjab MPAs) belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and its allies,” the petition said.

The statement of Rana Sanaullah in his press conference of July 18 anounts to “obstructing implementation of the court’s order” and threatens to “deprive the people of Punjab of representation in governance”, Parvez Elahi observed in his petition.

“The threatening statements by the incumbent interior minister have instilled fear in the ranks of PTI and its allies.”

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2022
 
Amid intense tensions and rising political mercury, the Punjab Assembly will head back to vote on Friday (today) to elect the new leader of the house – and the country’s political capital – as ordered by the Supreme Court to settle the dust on the long-drawn-out imbroglio triggered by the ‘disputed elections’ of the incumbent chief minister, Hamza Shehbaz, earlier this year.

In accordance with the recipe ordered by the apex court, the run-off polls are taking place five days after the by-polls on 20 seats that fell vacant after the disqualification of PTI defectors who voted for Hamza, in a new, reconstituted House with a changed electoral college.

PML-Q’s Pervaiz Elahi – PTI’s candidate – and the incumbent chief minister are now competing for the coveted post.

The bitterly contested political territory is buzzing with activities ranging from alleged parleys to peel off lawmakers from across the aisle, a flurry of meetings between political heavyweights and desperate labour to deliver a “last-minute shock” to the other side. Nonetheless, both the PTI-PML-Q alliance and the PML-N-led government have put on a bold face.

However, the stars are believed to be aligned for the PTI which, fresh off a victory in the first real test of its power in the recent Punjab by-polls, is entering the critical stretch of its plans to gather up the reins of the province it lost in a controversial chief minister’s election.

If it walks away as a victor in today’s contest, Imran Khan’s PTI will gain the political weightage it has been chasing to undercut the power of its arch-rivals in the Centre and pave the way back to Islamabad.

On the other hand, in a bid to hold the apparently slipping ground tight, the ruling PML-N has become feistier in its efforts to exhaust all options in its fast-shrinking room to save the Hamza-led government that was allowed by the apex court to continue only until today’s crucial elections.

A potential defeat would virtually leave the PML-N waiting for the other shoe to drop – a domino effect in Islamabad where the incumbent chief minister’s father, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is keeping tabs on the province’s politics with bated breath.

It is noteworthy that a similar heated contest earlier this year had mushroomed into a constitutional crisis and left Punjab in limbo with no effective government.

With approximately 186 members, the PTI holds a majority in the 371-seat assembly. Before the PA by-polls, the opposition – PTI (158 MPAs) and PMLQ (10 MPAs) – had a total strength of 168.

Following the ECP’s notification on five reserved seats, the number increased to 173. The tally increased after it won seats in the by-elections.

Meanwhile, the PML-N, after grabbing four seats in the by-elections, has the strength of 180.

Imran warns against 'manipulation'

Leery of manipulation amid hardball tactics by the ruling party to retain its hold in the province, PTI chief Imran Khan fired the warning shot, alerting the 'state institutions' against any attempt to manipulate the polls because then “the public will not be in control”.

"Don't think for one moment that the people will sit idle in case of manipulation of the polls," he said while addressing his supporters via video link on Thursday. "I want to make it clear that the PTI will not tolerate theft of the public's vote with their own money," he added.

The former prime minister accused his rival political parties of using money to buy loyalties ahead of the crucial poll.

According to him, attempts are also being made to intimidate PTI's lawmakers to keep them away from the election.

He went on to say that every tactic is used to make sure that the PTI is defeated in the Punjab by-polls.

The ousted premier also came down hard on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), saying he doesn’t have any faith in the current chief election commissioner. “We won’t run for the next general elections with this man as the chief election commissioner.”

He ruled out any possibility of transparent elections with the current CEC in the chair.

Imran also criticised the ECP for postponing by-elections and local bodies polls in Sindh “over a mere excuse of rains”.

He also took the top electoral watchdog to task for its opposition to the electronic voting machines, saying it opposed the move more than the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

Poised to dethrone Hamza Shehbaz as Punjab’s chief executive after conquering the ‘citadel’ of the Sharifs, the top leadership of both the PTI and the PML-Q have instructed their lawmakers to stay in the provincial capital and not leave it.

The parties have also directed their members of the provincial assembly to show up on a fateful day without fail.

PTI-PML-Q alliance has the magical number

Meanwhile, members of the PTI-PML-Q alliance made the claims that they have the strength of 186 members – the magical number to show the majority in the house – and said there was a “big surprise” for CM Hamza Shehbaz.

The PTI and its key ally, PML-Q, held a parliamentary party session at a hotel in Lahore, where PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry claimed all 186 members were present.

The session was also addressed by party chairman Imran Khan.

Fawad claimed that the opposition had mustered the numerical backing of 186 members and asked PML-N to now worry about its own MPAs who were “unhappy” with their party’s leadership and its policies.

Similarly, in his interaction with the media, PML-Q’s Moonis Elahi asserted that the number game for the chief minister’s election has been completed.

Moonis, who is the son of the PTI’s candidate Elahi, said that PML-Q had the support of more than the required lawmakers.

“The government will see its defeat this time,” Moonis Elahi said, adding that their tactic of offering money to lawmakers will not work.

Meanwhile, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari visited and held a meeting with PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at his Zahoor Elahi Road residence.

Fresh MPAs sworn in

Meanwhile, nineteen newly elected Punjab members of the provincial assembly who secured seats in recent Punjab by-elections also took oath on Thursday.

Out of the elected MPAs, 15 belonged to the PTI, three to PML-N and one is an independent member.

Besides, MPA Ali Afzal Sahi, who was elected from Faisalabad has also been sworn in.

The development came after PTI Central Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid had urged the Election Commission of Pakistan a day earlier to notify the party’s winning candidates of the results of the by-election for 20 seats.

She also demanded that it should take action on horse trading by PM Shehbaz and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

Dr Rashid stated that the winning candidates had yet to take the oath and then participate in the next session of the Punjab Assembly scheduled and notified for July 22 (today) in the Punjab Assembly building.

PML-N signals its validations

Meanwhile, in a significant interesting development, PML-N ‘validated’ the PTI’s assembly session by sending its three newly-elected MPAs to take the oath from PA Speaker Elahi – a rival in the polls.

This marks a stark contrast to what had been witnessed in previous such sessions where both camps decided to hold simultaneous sessions at separate places, trading blames running “illegal” sessions.

Earlier, speculations were swirling that the PML-N would repeat its strategy and will rather prefer deputy speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari to administer the oath.

However, the government continued to flex its muscles with claims that it was in no mood to give its arch-rival an easy walkover.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in a statement repeated his claim that "politically aware" PTI lawmakers whose conscience is “alive” will never vote for the PML-Q leader in the chief minister’s election on Friday.

His statement comes as opposition parties — PTI and PML-Q — have accused the ruling PML-N of offering hefty amounts to their lawmakers in an attempt to buy their loyalties ahead of the Punjab chief minister election scheduled for tomorrow (Friday).

The ruling PML-N lost the majority in the provincial legislature after by-polls on 20 Punjab Assembly seats in which the PTI secured a landslide victory.

While the PTI-PML-Q is in a comfortable position to form the government, Sanaullah said his party believed that Elahi is unfit for the post of the Punjab chief executive.

“We are reaching out to everyone [to muster support for CM election] which is our political right,” the federal minister said while dismissing the allegations that the PML-N is involved in horse-trading.

“The run-off election will be held tomorrow and we will vigorously use our political options but I strongly reject the baseless allegations.”

Elahi recently filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking contempt proceedings against PML-N leaders including Sanaullah for allegedly intimidating the PTI lawmakers in violation of the court’s verdict.

Responding to Imran Khan's allegations, he said that the former himself is the “mastermind of buying and selling in politics”.

Sounding alarms over the alleged behind-the-scene parleys, the PTI chief on Wednesday said Lahore was witnessing a repeat of the Sindh House horse-trading episode that plagued the no-trust motion of the then opposition parties had brought in to muscle him out of power.

He said a hefty amount of Rs500m was being doled out to buy MPAs – the wheeling and dealing Imran claimed it was being architected by PPP’s Asif Zardari who “gets NRO (national reconciliation ordinance) for his corruption and purchases people with looted wealth”.

“Imran Khan should stop making baseless accusations and slandering others... himself remained involved in such [horse trading] activities and a video evidence of buying votes during Senate elections is also available,” Sana claimed.

Express Tribune
 
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Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday hinted at the possibility of 50 PTI lawmakers in Punjab Assembly voting against Parvez Elahi — the party’s candidate against PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz — in the run-off election for Punjab chief minister that will take place today (Friday).

Addressing a press conference after the federal cabinet meeting, Mr Sanaullah said that it is possible that PTI members who are “sensible” and whose “conscience is alive” will question Mr Elahi’s selection as the candidate.

“PTI chairman Imran Khan had campaigned against Mr Elahi and called him ‘the biggest dacoit of Punjab’ and now he was asking his party to vote for him,” the minister said.

The lawmakers are also apprehensive on Mr Elahi’s statement to “instantly dissolve the assembly” on Mr Khan’s directives, the minister said, calling it an indication of how much value Mr Elahi gives to the assembly.

Says Imran used to call PTI’s CM candidate ‘Punjab’s biggest dacoit’; concedes that PML-N workers didn’t campaign for party’s candidates in by-polls

The minister rejected the PTI’s claims that PML-N was “buying” its party members, while admitting that the his pparty is “in contact with everyone” as it is their “political and democratic right”.

While saying that the PML-N “despises the politics of horse trading, Mr Sanaullah reminded the PTI chairman how independent candidates were brought into his party’s fold after the 2018 elections.

“Who spent money on the people you welcomed in your party [PTI] after the 2018 elections. Who spent the money on it? Whose plane was used [to bring people]?” he asked Mr Khan who has been alleging that the PML-N is using money to buy PTI’s members’ votes.

Mr Sanaullah added that although the PML-N thinks “Mr Elahi neither has the right nor the capacity to become the chief minister”, yet the party will not indulge in “buying and selling of votes”.

Mr Sanaullah, who is the president of PML-N’s Punjab chapter, also defended his party’s recent drubbing in the by-polls, saying that the defeat is “not indicative of the PML-N’s popularity”.

“No party’s popularity can be judged on 20 seats. The 20 people, whom we had given the tickets, carried the burden of Imran Khan’s incompetent and unpopular Punjab government,” he said.

He added that the constituents were miffed at the candidates, many of whom were minister in the Usman Buzdar-led government, for the lack of development work.

However, he conceded that the party’s decision to give tickets to disgruntled PTI members was rejected by its workers and supporters who didn’t camping wholeheartedly for these candidates.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2022
 
In a desperate move to save Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, the PPP-P pres*ident Asif Ali Zardari Thursday went to see Ch Shujat Hussain at the latter’s residence for the second time in the last two days.

Reportedly, he tried to convince Ch Shujat to direct at least four of his party MPAs to abstain from voting in today’s election as had been the case for the voting on the no-confidence motion against the PM when two of the PML-Q MNAs supported the PML-N and allied par*ties while three voted in favor of Imran Khan.

There was complete silence from the two sides about the out*come of this important meeting. But today’s election results might reveal if the meeting was successful or not. In a related news, the PPP-P president Asif Ali Zardari chaired a meeting of the par*ty’s Punjab Parliamentary party and declared support for Hamza Shehbaz Shar*if. He told the party legisla*tors that it was after seek*ing Ch Shujat’s consent that he had convinced the Shar*ifs to nominate Ch Parvez Elahi as the chief minister. He also refuted allegations of spending money to en*sure the success of Hamza Shehbaz Sharif. “Why would I spend money over Hamza Shehbaz? But yes, I would have spent millions if Has*san Murtaza had been our candidate”, Asif Zardari re*portedly told party men

https://nation.com.pk/2022/07/22/zardari-meets-shujat-rejects-allegations-of-vote-buying-for-hamza/
 
MenInG said:
In a desperate move to save Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, the PPP-P pres*ident Asif Ali Zardari Thursday went to see Ch Shujat Hussain at the latter’s residence for the second time in the last two days.

Reportedly, he tried to convince Ch Shujat to direct at least four of his party MPAs to abstain from voting in today’s election as had been the case for the voting on the no-confidence motion against the PM when two of the PML-Q MNAs supported the PML-N and allied par*ties while three voted in favor of Imran Khan.

There was complete silence from the two sides about the out*come of this important meeting. But today’s election results might reveal if the meeting was successful or not. In a related news, the PPP-P president Asif Ali Zardari chaired a meeting of the par*ty’s Punjab Parliamentary party and declared support for Hamza Shehbaz Shar*if. He told the party legisla*tors that it was after seek*ing Ch Shujat’s consent that he had convinced the Shar*ifs to nominate Ch Parvez Elahi as the chief minister. He also refuted allegations of spending money to en*sure the success of Hamza Shehbaz Sharif. “Why would I spend money over Hamza Shehbaz? But yes, I would have spent millions if Has*san Murtaza had been our candidate”, Asif Zardari re*portedly told party men

https://nation.com.pk/2022/07/22/zardari-meets-shujat-rejects-allegations-of-vote-buying-for-hamza/
Click to expand...

The reason The Crooked AZ is running around like a pimp is because Bajwa has promised to make Billo PM. If Kukrii loses power then effectively the mafia govt is finished, this makes it difficult to use state machinery especially if the PTI take out all the crooked Punjab Police officers and Bureaucrats. But the problem for AZ and Billo is an even more basic one, he has no support at all, the PPP have to kill and threaten people just to stay in power in Sindh. In
Punjab they have totally disappeared from the ballot. These thugs have everything but public support.
 
Last edited:
Ahead of the CM Punjab election, former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry Friday asked Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to accept defeat and leave the Punjab government, ARY News reported.

Fawad Chaudhry in his tweet said the country cannot bear political instability and everyone should realize their responsibility in this context.

He asked PML-N to leave to the government and advised political parties to hold dialogue on the framework of the next general elections.
 
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers started arriving at the Punjab Assembly premises on Friday as the former ruling party and the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) will contest to elect a new leader of the house in the country’s political capital.

More than 180 PTI MPAs and their allies were bussed to the assembly, while PML-N members – backing Hamza Shahbaz – had not arrived yet.

As ordered by the Supreme Court, the MPAs will vote to settle the dust on the long-drawn-out imbroglio triggered by the ‘disputed elections’ of the incumbent chief minister, Hamza Shahbaz, earlier this year.

In accordance with the recipe ordered by the apex court, the run-off polls are taking place five days after the by-polls on 20 seats that fell vacant after the disqualification of PTI defectors who voted for Hamza, in a new, reconstituted House with a changed electoral college.
 
All eyes are on Punjab as lawmakers elect their next chief minister shortly.

Lawmakers have already begun to arrive at the Punjab Assembly, with some PTI members flashing the victory sign.

Interestingly, PML-N lawmakers Saba Sadiq and Uzma Qadri arrived at the assembly decked out head-to-toe in personal protective equipment (PPE) as both were Covid-19 positive.

However, they were undeterred by their diagnosis as they arrived at the assembly all suited up and with health officials in tow.

The PML-N’s Rana Mashhood, who was speaking to Geo News from a bus on the way to the assembly, claimed that 175 MPAs of the PTI were there at the moment and the PML-N had 180.

There were some other developments as well. The Lahore High Court barred police from entering the assembly, which was requested by deputy speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari over the violence he endured during the April 16 election.

Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabbir pronounced the verdict on PTI lawmaker Sibtain Khan’s petition, ruling that the can police enter only when the situation goes bad.

Separately, a new provincial police chief was also appointed moments before the session was slated to begin.

The session, which will be chaired by Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari, comes a mere three months after incumbent Hamza Shehbaz secured the office on April 16 after garnering 197 votes — including 25 from PTI dissident MPAs — in a gruelling process that was punctuated by delays and violence.

The dissidents’ votes, which were instrumental in putting Hamza in the top seat, began a saga that went from their losing their seats to a Supreme Court interpretation of Article 63-A that retroactively gutted their votes, setting the stage for another election for the provincial chief.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1700857/l...ith-pivotal-cm-election-to-take-place-shortly
 
Wonder what this is all about?

==

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rao Sardar excused himself from serving as the provincial police chief ahead of the crucial assembly session to elect a new chief minister on Friday.

Following his resignation, the establishment division in a notification said Faisal Shahkar, a **-22 officer of Police Service of Pakistan, has been appointed as the new provincial police chief.

According to sources, Rao Sardar stepped down from the post following consultation with his colleagues, Express News reported.
 
Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Friday approached the Supreme Court against the deployment of the inspector general of police (IGP) in the house during the CM elections today.

The PML-Q leader, who is also the chief ministerial candidate, moved the court against the deputy speaker’s letter to the IGP and chief secretary regarding the deployment of security forces within the house as well as within precincts of the assembly.

In his petition, Elahi claimed that Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari intends to interfere in the election process and that his letter to deploy security in the Punjab Assembly shows ill intentions.

He maintained that the IG Punjab should be stopped from entering the provincial assembly.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The tense political atmosphere escalated into a brawl in the Punjab Assembly ahead of the historic election for the chief ministership of the country’s largest province.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/etribune?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#etribune</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/news?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#news</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabAssembly?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabAssembly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pakistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/FxRc8ap1Rn">pic.twitter.com/FxRc8ap1Rn</a></p>— The Express Tribune (@etribune) <a href="https://twitter.com/etribune/status/1550464731043041282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
As uncertainty around the election of the next chief minister of Punjab increased, PTI leader and former minister Fawad Chaudhry warned on Friday that his party was preparing a contempt petition against Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.

The crucial session, which was scheduled to commence at 4pm, has been facing a delay.

In a tweet, Chaudhry said that “unnecessary delay” in the session was a “violation of the Supreme Court’s orders”. “Have told our lawyers to prepare for contempt proceedings,” he tweeted, adding that in a while, a petition would be filed in the apex court.
 
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