Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman directed Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the house today (December 21).
According to a notification issued by the Punjab Governor’s Secretariat, “The governor Punjab is pleased to sign order summoning the provincial assembly of Punjab at 1600 hours (4pm) on Wednesday (December 21) and requiring the chief minister of Punjab to obtain a vote of confidence in terms of Article 130(7) of the Constitution.”
However, Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan has said that the governor cannot call a meeting during the ongoing session of the provincial assembly as per the rules.
Following his meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan at his Zaman Park residence, the speaker said that the PDM was running away from elections.
“When the governor asks for a vote of confidence, the CM is required to take a vote of confidence. The constitution is very clear,” tweeted Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned that if Elahi did not obtain a vote of confidence today, he would cease to be the province’s chief executive.
“The Punjab Assembly speaker’s stance that the assembly is in session, so the CM cannot be asked to obtain a vote of confidence is wrong. If Elahi fails to do so, he will cease to be the CM,” he maintained.
Sanaullah said the governor would issue an order barring the chief minister from holding the office in case he did not get a vote of confidence by Wednesday afternoon.
He has also said that Governor Punjab will give a new notification at 4pm today (Wednesday, December 21). According to the new declaration, Pervaiz Elahi will no longer be the chief minister.
