Lahore:
Newly elected Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz took oath of office. Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf took oath from Punjab Chief Minister.
Other PML-N leaders, including Maryam Nawaz, also attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister. Strict security measures were taken at the Governor House in this regard.
The ceremony started with the recitation of Holy Quran followed by Naat Rasool Maqbool.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Punjab Governor Omar Cheema had demanded the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the ‘bullying’ in the Governor’s House. Drama is being created.
It may be recalled that yesterday the Lahore High Court had directed the Speaker National Assembly to take oath as Chief Minister from Hamza Shahbaz.
On the other hand, a statement has been issued by the Chief Secretary Punjab to take charge of the post of Hamza Shahbaz.
In the notification, the Chief Secretary said that Sardar Usman Bazdar is no longer the Chief Minister of Punjab, Usman Bazdar was immediately barred from using the office of the Chief Minister.
In addition, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif took charge of his office as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
After the swearing in ceremony, Hamza Shahbaz reached his office at Club where he was presented guard of honor by the Punjab Police contingent.
Hamza Shahbaz was elected Chief Minister on April 16 with 197 votes, but Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema refused to take the oath of office, saying that Chief Minister Usman Bazdar had resigned as Prime Minister, after which his resignation could not be accepted. And it was unconstitutional.
In addition, the Governor of Punjab had said that the report of the Secretary to the Punjab Assembly regarding the election of the Chief Minister stated that the instructions of the Lahore High Court presented to him and the ‘facts’ on the authenticity of the election of the Chief Minister. Questions have been raised.
Omar Sarfraz Cheema had said in a press conference that “I have written a letter to the Advocate General of Punjab and the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly seeking his statement on the report of the Secretary, following the directions of the Lahore High Court and other facts. My mind is hesitant about holding it.
Hamza Shahbaz had approached the Lahore High Court to take oath, however, despite two court decisions, Hamza Shahbaz was not sworn in.
On April 21, the Lahore High Court had directed Arif Alvi to appoint a representative and a place for the swearing in of Hamza Shahbaz if the Governor of Punjab was not present.
