Pakistan’s Punjab CM resigns ahead of No-Confidence Motion 

Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister, Usman Buzdar hands over his resignation to Imran Khan ahead of the No-Confidence Motion, to be faced by the PTI on Friday .

Usman Buzdar, the Chief Minister of the Punjab province of Pakistan has resigned from his post following the proposal of No-Confidence motion in Pakistan’s National Assembly. The opposition is set to conduct the no trust motion on Friday against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government. 

Prime Minister Imran Khan has named Chaudhary Pervez Elahi of PML-Q for the same post. The Information and Broadcasting Minister of State, Farrukh Habib, confirmed the news through his twitter handle.

He said, “Chaudhary Pervez Elahi meets Prime minister Imran Khan, All issues were settled in the meeting. PML-Q expresses confidence in PM and announces support. Chief Minister Usman Buzdar tenders his resignation to PM.

PM Imran Khan has decided to nominate Chaudhary Pervez Elahi as the new Chief Minister of Punjab.”

Why did Usman Buzdar resign? 

Pakistan’s politics is in a state of turmoil. Immediately after Imran Khan’s huge Jalsa, the opposition in Pakistan proposed the no-confidence motion against the ruling government. The voting will commence on Friday this week.

However, during the proposal of no trust motion, the opposition introduced it against PTI’s Usman Buzdar. The opposition managed to gain 127 votes against Buzdar. The opposition intended to control Imran’s PTI from possibly dissolving Punjab assembly in case of the premier’s ouster.  

Further, the opposition has also filed a resolution against Usman Buzdar. It says that Buzdar has lost the trust of the house. Specifically the resolution states, “Buzdar has violated the constitution by not running the affairs of the province of 110 million people in accordance with it.

He also worked against the spirit of democracy during the last three-and-a-half years.” 

Opposition targets other important ministers 

Pakistan Muslim League lawmaker, Rana Mashhood, talked to a media person after yesterday’s session. He confirmed that just like Usman Buzdar, the opposition will bring a no-confidence motion against National Assembly speaker, Asad Qaiser and, Senate Chairman, Sadiq Sanjrani.

Rana Mashhood sounded much confident about taking down the Imran Khan government. He said, “It is a writing on the wall that both Imran Khan and Usman Buzdar cannot survive the no-confidence motion therefore the only honourable exit for them is to resign.”

He further confirmed that the opposition has the required number of support to dissolve the ruling government. The current situation of Pakistan suggests that the opposition’s side has much more weightage than the Imran Government. The Pakistan National Assembly has 342 members.

The opposition enjoys the support of 163 members. Further, the Baluchistan Awami Party adds up to 168 members, as the BAP is supporting the opposition. Certainly, the opposition requires just 4 votes to oust the Imran Government. 

Now, everyone focuses on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement which acquires 7 members in the Assembly. In case, all these members vote with opposition against the ruling government, Imran Khan’s government will be dethroned. 

According to the constitution of Pakistan, the Prime Minister cannot dissolve the house and order fresh elections after the No-Confidence motion is tabled in Parliament. The voting will most probably take place after 3rd day and before 7th day. 

Tariq Basheer Cheema resigns 

Tariq Basheer Cheema is a PML-Q member and also a cabinet minister in the Imran Government. The Federal Minister for Housing, Tariq Basheer Cheema has also resigned from his post to vote for the opposition’s no-confidence motion.

While it is interesting to note, that earlier Imran Khan assigned PML-Q’s Chaudhary Pervez Elahi to take the post left vacant after Usman Buzdar resigned. Further, Imran Khan’s special assistant on Political Communication confirmed to one of the reporters that PML-Q has assured their support towards Prime Minister Imran Khan. 

Amidst so much of chaos and uncertainty, the situation will get cleared on Friday after the voting of the No-Confidence motion in National Assembly. However, while the Pakistan’s political play is on in Islamabad, eventually the Pakistan Military will decide whether Imran Khan will stay or his government will be ousted. 

Published By – Damandeep Singh
Edited By- Kritika Kashyap