Islamabad :
President Dr. Arif Alvi has asked the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in his reply letter to reconsider his advice regarding the appointment of Governor Punjab.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat, President Arif Ali had earlier referred to the Prime Minister a conversation held on May 9, 2022 in which he sought the Prime Minister’s advice to remove Omar Cheema from office. He said that under Article 101 (2), the Governor would remain in office till the approval of the President, however, he was dismissed on the same day with the notification of the Cabinet Division.
In response to a letter written for the appointment of a new governor, the president reiterated his position today and said that the current situation demanded that the incumbent governor should remain in office.
President Arif Alvi while replying to the letter of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Omar Sarfraz Cheema is still holding the post of Governor Punjab, there is no justification for the new appointment.
He wrote that under Article 101 (2) of the Constitution, the Governor will remain in office till the approval of the President.
The President also referred to the letter of Omar Sarfraz Cheema dated April 23, 2022 and a report dated May 4, 2022 which highlighted that during the election of the Chief Minister, the loyalties of the members of the Punjab Assembly changed. By illegally associating the majority, it has created serious problems of governance in the province as well as violated Article 63A of the Constitution.
He wrote that the illegal measures had created serious problems for governance in Punjab.
He said that the decision of the Election Commission on May 20 had further strengthened the position of the Governor of Punjab.
In view of the above facts, the President asked the Prime Minister to reconsider his advice regarding the appointment of a new Governor of Punjab in accordance with Article 48 (1) of the Constitution.
