Legal experts say the law bars second in line deputy speaker Dost Mazari from assuming the acting governor’s role.
By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, speaker Punjab assembly had refused to take charge of acting governor after the removal of Omar Sarfraz Cheema, deepening a political and constitutional crisis in the country s largest and most populous province.
The federal government on Tuesday removed Cheema as governor of Punjab on an advice of the prime minister. Provincial authorities also barred Cheema from entering Governor House.
The PML-N government has nominated Baligh-ur-Rehman as the new governor of Punjab.
Legal experts say the law bars second in line deputy speaker Dost Mazari from assuming the acting governor’s role.
“Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Elahi has not taken the charge of acting governor as he is consulting constitutional experts in this regard,” his party Pakistan Muslim League-Q’s spokesperson said.
Elahi also met the sacked governor and expressed his support. “We will continue to uphold the Constitution and law and resist all of the government’s unconstitutional actions,” Elahi was quoted as saying. “The government has set up a factory of unconstitutional measures, but I will carry out my duties in accordance with the Constitution and law.”
Cheema, in a tweet, rejected the the government move. “I am consulting legal experts and will soon announce my next plan of action.”
Imran Khan, former prime minister and PTI chairman urged the Supreme Court to take “immediate notice of the blatant violation of the Constitution and the law in Punjab”.
“Imported puppets are stirring up constitutional anarchy and chaos in Punjab,” Khan said. “First, a criminal puppet was imposed on the province as a chief minister through a ghost election. Now, keeping all constitutional requirements aside, the office of the president has been insulted.”
The former premier said the “blatant violation” of the Constitution in Punjab was being watched in silence, therefore, the Supreme Court must take suo motu notice of the situation, given its sensitivity.
Newly appointed Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali, however said forcibly occupying a constitutional office is immoral. “When one (governor) loses trust of the government he/she should quit respectably. Such offices carry honour and respect.”
But Ahmad Awais, advocate general Punjab maintained that the federal government had committed “contempt of the president”.
“Removal of Cheema from the office of the governor despite President Arif Ali’s rejection of the premier’s summary amounts to contempt of the president.”
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