Arif Alvi rejects
PM’s advice to
remove Governor Punjab,
discuss issue with Cheema

0
50

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Monday conveyed to Prime Minister Shehbaz that Governor Punjab Umar Safraz Cheema cannot be removed without his approval.

President Dr. Arif Alvi

Referring to clause 3 of Article 101 of the Constitution, he stated that “the Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President”.

The President wrote that the incumbent governor cannot be removed as there was neither any allegation of misconduct nor conviction by any court of law or of any act committed by him contrary to the Constitution of Pakistan, a press release issued by the President’s Media Wing here said.

He stated that it was his duty as Head of the State to represent the unity of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in terms of Article 41 of the Constitution.

Highlighting the Constitutional role of the Governor of Punjab, the President said that the Governor had also sent a report earlier regarding the unfortunate happenings in the Punjab Assembly, questions regarding the validity of the resignation of Chief Minister Punjab, Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan Buzdar, and shifting of loyalties.

Rejecting the advice of the Prime Minister, the President stated he was convinced that the removal of the Governor would be unfair and against the norms of justice.

The President emphasized it was essential that the incumbent Governor should continue to stay to encourage and promote a healthy and clean democratic system where members are not coerced or bought to bring about an illegitimate change and Article 63A of the Constitution specifically discouraged such activities.

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Omer Cheema discussing Punjab situation with President Dr. Arif Avli at President House.

The President further highlighted that he was committed to stand by the provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan in these difficult times and strongly rejected the advice of the Prime Minister to remove the Governor Punjab.

Rana Sanaullah

Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Monday expressed the hope that the change of Punjab governor would take place in line with the Constitution.

The minister, in a statement, said the president was constitutionally bound to implement the advice of prime minister in that regard. All the constitutional parameters would hopefully be followed vis-a-vis the appointment of new Punjab governor, he added.

Governor Punjab wants force to

arrest Hamza and put him into jail

Punjab Governor Omer Cheema has claimed that if Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa provided him with one subedar and four jawans, he would arrest recently sworn-in Chief Minister Hamza, who he termed “illegal, unconstitutional and counterfeit”, and throw him in jail.

A day after urging Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to play his “role” in the implementation of the Constitutional framework in Punjab, Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema Thursday said that he will arrest CM Hamza Shehbaz Sharif if provided “a subedar and four soldiers”.

In a statement on Twitter, Omar Sarafarz Cheema said that the crisis-hit province has been taken hostage by force. The PTI loyalist said that the silence of mainstream political parties on the constitutional crisis in Punjab is “extremely worrying” and added that Awab Alvi, President Arif Alvi’s son, will be the next chief minister of Sindh if such practices become the culture of our politics.

“I always called for a neutral umpire during my political struggle,” he said, adding that the neutral umpire, in fact, has the same rules for both teams.

Punjab Governor Omer Cheema has said that his official residence was “captured” on Saturday to hold oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz and termed Usman Buzdar’s resignation as chief executive of the province as “illegal”.

“The oath-taking of Hamza Shehbaz was illegal after I rejected the resignation of Usman Buzdar,” said the governor while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Sunday.

He maintained that former CM Buzdar’s resignation could not be accepted by the ex-governor as it was addressed to the prime minister instead of the governor.