Following Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz's oath-taking, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has decided to put the formation of the new provincial government on hold, as it awaits the removal of Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema from his position.
Dawn reported that a senior PML-N leader revealed on Sunday that the finalization of the new provincial cabinet might be delayed by a few weeks, even though discussions were already underway, until the current Punjab governor has been ousted.
On April 16, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a notice for the removal of Gov Cheema to President Arif Alvi.
“As long as Mr Cheema is in office, he is not going to administer oath to new Punjab cabinet for sure, compelling us to move the court," the PML-N leader said. He added that they have decided to simply wait till Cheema is removed from office by the mid of the month, instead of seeking intervention from the courts again.
Governor Cheema had previously caused significant delays in the matter of Hamza Shahbaz's oath-taking, due to which the latter had to appeal to the Lahore High Court twice. Ultimately, upon Cheema's refusal to administer the oath to Shahbaz, the National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf administered Shahbaz's oath.
“The PML-N does not want oath-taking matter of new Punjab cabinet to be taken to the court like that of Mr Hamza’s and can wait for 10 days or so, seeing the ruling coalition’s own governor taking the charge,” the PML-N leader disclosed.
As per the Constitution, the president has 14 days to respond to a notice issued by the prime minister, after which the prime minister can issue another notice that remains valid for ten days. If the president does not respond to the second notice, then the prime minister can step in and appoint a new governor.
Dawn reported that a senior PML-N leader revealed on Sunday that the finalization of the new provincial cabinet might be delayed by a few weeks, even though discussions were already underway, until the current Punjab governor has been ousted.
On April 16, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a notice for the removal of Gov Cheema to President Arif Alvi.
“As long as Mr Cheema is in office, he is not going to administer oath to new Punjab cabinet for sure, compelling us to move the court," the PML-N leader said. He added that they have decided to simply wait till Cheema is removed from office by the mid of the month, instead of seeking intervention from the courts again.
Governor Cheema had previously caused significant delays in the matter of Hamza Shahbaz's oath-taking, due to which the latter had to appeal to the Lahore High Court twice. Ultimately, upon Cheema's refusal to administer the oath to Shahbaz, the National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf administered Shahbaz's oath.
“The PML-N does not want oath-taking matter of new Punjab cabinet to be taken to the court like that of Mr Hamza’s and can wait for 10 days or so, seeing the ruling coalition’s own governor taking the charge,” the PML-N leader disclosed.
As per the Constitution, the president has 14 days to respond to a notice issued by the prime minister, after which the prime minister can issue another notice that remains valid for ten days. If the president does not respond to the second notice, then the prime minister can step in and appoint a new governor.