Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that constitutionally Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi is no longer the Chief Minister of Punjab.
“The Governor of Punjab had asked the Chief Minister to take a vote of confidence by yesterday, but he did not take it, so according to the constitution, Pervaiz Elahi is no longer the chief minister,” said Sanaullah.
Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman directed Chief Minister Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the house on December 21.
Sanaullah said that Governor Rehman is using his powers under the Constitution, adding that whenever he issues the orders [of de-notifying Elahi as chief minister], they will be implemented.
“The governor’s order de-notifying Elahi as the chief minister is now just a formality,” he said. “I think it will be issued today.”
The minister also said that Elahi cannot advise dissolving the assembly now, terming it “illegal and unconstitutional” and against the rules of the assembly.
“If this constitutional decision is resisted and its implementation is stopped, the governor can write to the federal government,” Sanaullah said. “After the cabinet’s approval, the federal government can send his advice to the president to approve the imposition of governor’s rule in the province.”
The interior minister asserted that the president is bound to follow the advice of the prime minister.
“The second option we have is that parliament can pass a resolution and then governor’s rule will be imposed for two months,” he added. “After two months, another resolution can be passed and the governor’s rule can be extended for six months.”
