Tag: Punjab Assembly

  • Disheartened: PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat might quit politics

    Disheartened: PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat might quit politics

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has been reportedly considering quitting politics after being shocked by the aggressiveness and hooliganism staged during the Punjab Assembly session on Saturday, reports Geo News’ sources.

    According to the news outlet, Jamaat-e-Islami Central Vice-Chief Liaquat Baloch visited the residence of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to enquire about his well-being where he also met Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

    During the conversation, Baloch urged Ch Shujaat to suggest effective steps for the elimination of aggressiveness and extremism from politics. The PML-Q chief, however, in a dispirited tone expressed that he was now considering whether or not to stay in politics.

    Baloch also suggested to Ch Shujaat to tell people that aggression and violence is in nobody’s interest and will benefit no one in any form. The report quoting sources said that Ch Shujaat told Baloch that he will speak to him about his future line of action after making up his mind.

    Chaudhry Shujaat’s cousin Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, who was a candidate for the slot of CM Punjab, was injured during a fight in Punjab Assembly.

  • ‘We are inching towards Civil unrest’: Fawad Ch on Punjab Assembly clash

    ‘We are inching towards Civil unrest’: Fawad Ch on Punjab Assembly clash

    Former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry took to his Twitter account to comment on the manhandling of Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari by Assembly members belonging to PTI, earlier today (Saturday).

    “We are inching towards a full-fledged Civil unrest, Imran Khan has exercised utmost restraint even he won’t be able to stop this very angry mob and we’ll see the country plunging into civil unrest, imported leaders will not be able to leave the country,” he wrote in the tweet.

    Mazari was roughed up by PTI legislators carrying lotas (round water containers) before being brought back to his chamber in protective custody by the assembly’s security team. Mazari was said to have suffered minor injuries as a result of the assault by the PTI MPAs.

    On Friday, a division bench of the Lahore High Court dismissed a petition filed by a PML-Q politician and ordered Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari to hold a transparent and impartial election for the new Chief Minister of Punjab on April 16 (saturday).

  • ‘Elahi wants to get people murdered’: PML-N blames PTI, PML-Q for attack on Deputy Speaker Punjab

    ‘Elahi wants to get people murdered’: PML-N blames PTI, PML-Q for attack on Deputy Speaker Punjab

    The Punjab Assembly (PA) session, which was started to elect the new Chief Minister (CM) Punjab turned into a battle filed today (Saturday).

    Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari was attacked by several Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs). The lawmakers of the ruling party threw “lotas” at Mazari first, attacked him and pulled his hair despite the presence of security guards. Mazari who got injured somehow managed to go inside his chamber.

    Consequently, the session has been delayed due to the unfortunate incident.

    In a media talk outside the Punjab Assembly after the ruckus inside, PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar blamed Pervaiz Elahi and his “group of gangsters” for everything that happened inside the legislature.

    “What happened today is a blatant violation of the law and Constitution,” he said. “Today, the deputy speaker was attacked. This is an incident of terrorism. I have heard Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi wants to get one or two people murdered.” He added that Elahi had been encouraging the MPAs when they attacked the deputy speaker.

    Tarar also called on the Lahore High Court to take suo moto notice of the incident and initiate action against the culprits. “We are here and won’t move till midnight.”

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also condemned the incident. In a tweet, she said, “The gang of thugs whose name is PTI, seeing their defeat in Punjab, have started bullying again.”

    She further said that “This culture is by no means good for the country and for the nation but is a disaster. It must be stopped and eradicated immediately.”

    Similarly, PML-N Marriyum Aurangzeb took a jibe at former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. She said, “After attacking the constitution, Parliament, Khan ordered an attack on Deputy Speaker in Punjab Assembly.”

    PML-N Khawaja Asif lashed out at Pervaiz Elahi, saying: “PTI-PML-Q gang of mobsters has not only desecrated Punjab Assembly a constitutional institution representing people of Punjab but they have also brought shame to parliamentarians all over the country.”

    On the contrary, the ruling party nominee  Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi blamed the PML-N for bringing the police inside the legislature “for the first time since the creation of assemblies”.

    “Who is the police to enter the assembly?” the PML-Q leader said. “We will make sure the Inspector General of Police (IGP) appears before us and he will be punished for a month.”

    A tough contest is expected to take place between Elahi and PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz, who is the joint opposition’s candidate. Both candidates, along with their supporters, had arrived at the PA in the morning.

  • ‘Hamza is like my brother’, Aleem Khan dispels rumours of differences with him

    ‘Hamza is like my brother’, Aleem Khan dispels rumours of differences with him

    The member of disgruntled Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) group Aleem Khan dismissed the reports about any differences with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) nominee for Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, saying: “Hamza is like my younger brother.”

    In a tweet, Khan took a jibe at Hamza’s contender Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Pervaiz Elahi and said, “Elahi is seeing his defeat. He has come to know that defeat has become his destiny. I have a very lovable and respect relation with Hamza. He is like my younger brother. Nothing has happened and will never happen.”

    “Pervaiz Elahi should admit his defeat. Come to the polls. There will be no need for them to do such things,” Khan added.

    Following this, Hamza also dropped a tweet. He said, “The lies which have been propagated against me and Aleem Khan are baseless and a product of someone’s imagination. Khan is a respected brother and a senior politician. Seeing a clear defeat in Punjab, such a bay is being flown.”

    Earlier, it was claimed that Khan is involved in an altercation with Hamza and he had threatened to resign from his seat.

    The Punjab Assembly’s crucial session for the election of a new CM is likely to take place on April 16. PML-N has claimed of having the support of 202 Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) in the house.

  • Zardari ‘smiled’ when PML-Q asked for his help to make Pervaiz Elahi Chief Minister: Chaudhry Shujaat’s son

    Zardari ‘smiled’ when PML-Q asked for his help to make Pervaiz Elahi Chief Minister: Chaudhry Shujaat’s son

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has once again approached former President Asif Ali Zardari for the Punjab chief ministership, reports Geo News.

    PML-Q leader Tariq Bashir Cheema and Chaudhry Shujaat’s son Chaudhry Salik Hussain met Asif Ali Zardari and conveyed Chaudhry Shujaat’s message to the former president. Both Cheema and Salik requested Zardari to support Pervez Elahi for the post of Chief Minister Punjab.

    Zardari, after hearing this request, smiled and did not respond.

    Meanwhile, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz have been advised by the Lahore High Court (LHC) to decide a date for the chief minister’s election peacefully instead of “creating a scene”, reports Geo News.

    LHC Chief Justice Ameer Bhatti while hearing the case against the delay in the CM election asked the lawyers of all the parties of the case to gather at the Punjab advocate-general’s office and settle the date for the CM election. It has been advised that the parties reach the date through mutual consultation and understanding.

    “Don’t create a scene. Remember we are all residents of this country. Solve the problem at home, together,” the LHC CJ remarked.

    Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti informed the court that the lawmakers belonging to the PML-N had allegedly ransacked the furniture of the House during the session on April 3. The furniture is now being replaced.

    “As a result of the ruckus, the session was adjourned until April 16,” he said.

    Earlier, through an official notification, Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari himself postponed on Tuesday the session of the Punjab Assembly till April 16. It has also been reproted that Mazari’s powers have been restored by the LHC.

  • Hamza Shehbaz moves High Court for new Punjab CM’s election

    Hamza Shehbaz moves High Court for new Punjab CM’s election

    Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz moved Lahore High Court (LHC) to seek the court’s help for the in-house election of a new Chief Minister (CM) Punjab after the resignation of Usman Buzdar.

    The petition said the nomination papers of Hamza and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) Pervaiz Elahi were submitted for the CM’s seat and later a session of the assembly was convened for voting on April 3 but it was adjourned.

    Consequently, the Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari directed to hold the session on April 6 at 07:30 pm but the assembly premises were sealed. Hamza requested the court to ensure that there is no interference in the house.

    During the hearing, chaired by LHC Chief Justice (CJ) Amir Bhatti, Hamza’s counsel Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said the Punjab advocate general had assured the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on April 5 that the session would be held the next day i.e. April 6th. At this, the CJ summoned the Punjab advocate general only to know that he is in Islamabad.

    CJ Bhatti decided to issue notices to all respondents including; Elahi, Mazari, the Punjab chief secretary, and the provincial police chief for Monday (April 11) and adjourned the hearing.

    On April 6th, Mazari summoned a crucial session of the assembly for the election of new CM Punjab. However, the PML-Q submitted a no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker.

    After the Punjab Assembly was sealed off with barbed wires and the building’s main gate was locked while 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 has been “elected” as the Punjab CM.

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

  • No-Trust Twist: Deputy Speaker calls Punjab Assembly session, PML-Q brings no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker

    No-Trust Twist: Deputy Speaker calls Punjab Assembly session, PML-Q brings no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker

    Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari summoned a crucial session to vote on Chief Minister (CM) Punjab at 7:30pm on Wednesday (today).

    Following this, it has been reported that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has submitted no-confidence motion to remove the deputy speaker. While reacting to the news, Mazari said that he can still preside over the session.

    However, journalist Hamid Mir said that the gates of the Punjab Assembly have been sealed.

    According to local media channels, the deputy speaker issued a written order for convening session of the assembly on Tuesday. The order reads: “Deputy speaker orders that instead of the earlier announced date of April 16th, the next sitting of 40th session of Punjab Assembly will now be held on Wednesday at 7:30pm.”

    Talking to Geo News, Mazari clarified that today’s session agenda includes vote on the election of a new CM Punjab. He said, “I have released the order of the day in the light of Supreme Court directions.”

    “We are answerable to the apex court. We will not postpone the voting and will try our best to complete the process today”, he added. While talking about the confusion regarding the session dates, Mazari claimed that Punjab Assembly staff have not been cooperating with him and Assembly staff is responsible for the confusion.

    When asked about the legal status of his order, Mazari said that it is just an order that needs the Assembly secretariat’s signature, without which the session cannot be held. He added that the Assembly staff and Secretariat Assembly should issue a gazette notification on his order but they are not following the legal procedures

    On the contrary, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi told Dawn that the notice circulating on the media is ‘fake’ as it does not have a diary number and is written on a plain piece of paper. He asserted that the session would be held on April 16.

    In a tweet, journalist Ahmad Waleed claimed that spokesperson of the Punjab Assembly has also said that the session will be convened on April 16, adding that “no notification” was issued for today’s meeting.

    Earlier, through an official notification, Mazari himself postponed on Tuesday the session of the Punjab Assembly till April 16.

  • CM Punjab will not be elected today, says Secretary Punjab Assembly

    CM Punjab will not be elected today, says Secretary Punjab Assembly

    Punjab Assembly (PA) was scheduled to elect the new leader of the house following Usman Buzdar’s resignation today. PA session was to begin at 11am but is yet to get underway.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is the government’s candidate for the CM slot while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz is the joint Opposition’s candidate.

    Talking to the media on Saturday, Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti said only the schedule would be issued in today’s assembly session and “there will be no [other] proceeding”.

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

    The Punjab government had de-notified Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar after the acceptance of his resignation but in the same notification allowed him “to continue to hold office until his successor enters upon the office”.

    Buzdar’s resignation was accepted by Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar on Friday, followed by an immediate summoning of the PA session for today in order to elect the new provincial chief.

    Buzdar had presented his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 28.

  • Bye Bye Buzdar?: No-trust motion submitted against Punjab CM Usman Buzdar

    Bye Bye Buzdar?: No-trust motion submitted against Punjab CM Usman Buzdar

    The Opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar in the Punjab Assembly today (March 28).

    A total of 126 lawmakers from the Opposition parties have signed the no-confidence motion against Buzdar, said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Rana Mashood, adding that 119 members signed the requisition for a session.

    Copy of the no-confidence motion against CM Buzdar

    The speaker is bound to summon a session within 14 days of the submission of the no-trust motion. CM Punjab can no longer dissolve the Assembly after the submission of a no-confidence motion against him.

    It is pertinent to mention here that on March 8, the Opposition submitted a no-trust motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in National Assembly, which is likely to be tabled today in a crucial NA session.

  • Is Jahangir Tareen becoming the new favourite of PML-N?

    Is Jahangir Tareen becoming the new favourite of PML-N?

     Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) disgruntled leader Jahangir Khan Tareen met secretly to discuss the ousting of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, reports The News.

    The news outlet reports that the two leaders met a few days ago to discuss the fate of the incumbent government.

    It is also being reported that Tareen said that everybody is upset over the economic condition of the country because of the growing price hike.

    Earlier this week, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz said: “We are in contact with everyone (including the Jahangir Khan Tareen group) as our sole target is removing Imran Khan.”

    The Jahangir Tareen group also had a meeting at the residence of the chief minister’s former adviser, Awn Chaudry.

    In a conversation with the media after the meeting, Tareen said, “Politicians keep contact with each other, and these contacts will continue to exist.” He also said that the politicians would consult each other on the country’s situation.