Lahore:
The PPP provincial legislators called on Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz to work out a joint strategy in the wake of the Supreme Court decision on deviant legislators.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced to go to court to remove the provincial chief executive.
According to media reports, the PTI also hinted at accepting an offer from the PML-N government at the Center to hold talks on electoral reforms, but only after announcing the date of the next elections.
The party also met with PML-Q leaders to work out a joint strategy to oust Hamza.
On the other hand, PPP legislators led by Hassan Murtaza met the Chief Minister and discussed the situation arising out of the Supreme Court decision.
In the current situation, the PPP is eyeing at least four ministries and some advisory posts in Punjab after the PML-N seems to be deprived of the posts of Governor Punjab and Speaker.
In this regard, the PPP lawmakers assured Hamza Shahbaz of their support and said that they should not be worried if there is a run-off poll for the Chief Minister.
In addition, both Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz and the PTI provincial leadership held separate meetings with legal experts to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court decision.
In view of this development, the PML-N says that if such a situation arises in the light of the decision of the Supreme Court, it is ready for a run-off election for the new Chief Minister.
The PTI, on the other hand, believes that after the Supreme Court’s clear decision on the status of ‘looters’, Hamza will not remain Chief Minister and if he does not resign immediately, the party will approach the court to send him home.
However, Federal Law Minister Nazir Tarar said that Hamza Shahbaz would not resign and stressed that both the federal and Punjab governments would complete their term (by August 2023).
PML-N Punjab Secretary General Owais Leghari has asked President Dr Arif Alvi to play his role in ending the constitutional crisis in Punjab and appoint a governor so that a provincial cabinet can be formed.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had sent a summary to the President to nominate Baligh-ur-Rehman, a party loyalist from Bahawalpur, for the post of Governor, but President Alvi was not accepting it.
