Earlier, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari declared Hamza winner of the chief minister’s election after rejecting 10 votes of the PML-Q lawmakers, citing Shujaat’s letter, instructing party members to cast their votes in favour of Hamza.
“His [Chaudhry Shujaat’s] role today is the victory of democracy and constitutional values and I pay tribute to him for his contributions. Zardari has also played a historic role in his political maturity as he pulled the country out of the crisis. I thank all coalition parties and their respected leaders for the political insight, unity, and support due to which the “democracy won,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on Twitter.
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said: “Shujaat took a principled decision despite the pressure and increased his respect and dignity.”
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Shujaat’s decision saved the country from “Imrani fitna”. He added that all the leaders of the coalition parties appreciate the decision taken by Shujaat.
Following Hamza's victory, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took to Twitter and praised his father Zardari, saying, "Ek Zardari sab pe bhaari."
Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari said that the PTI fought to take away individual right to vote and celebrated the Supreme Court's decision that individuals must follow the party head.