After much delay, PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz finally took the oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab. National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf administered the oath on the directives of the Lahore High Court (LHC)
Hamza Shehbaz is now the 21st chief minister of Punjab. Hamza won with a clear majority of 197 votes from the Punjab Assembly on April 16. He is the eldest son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Interestingly, this is the first time in Pakistan’s history that both a father and son served as Punjab Chief Ministers.
Important to note, today’s oath comes almost two weeks after the Punjab Assembly elected Hamza Shehbaz as the Chief Minister. There were many delays and Hamza Shehbaz had to move the court three times.
Read more: Aleem Khan rejects reports of clash with Hamza Shehbaz
After the election as the Punjab CM, Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema refused to administer the oath to Hamza Shehbaz who then sought the high court’s intervention on the matter.
President Dr. Arif Alvi too refused to administer the oath after being nominated. As a result, LHC finally directed Raja Pervaiz to administer the oath.
So Hamza Shehbaz has finally managed to take the oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) April 30, 2022
Usman Buzdar still the CM?
On the other hand, earlier today, Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema “rejected” the resignation of Usman Buzdar as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
According to details, Omar Cheema wrote a letter to Punjab Speaker Pervaiz Elahi saying the resignation did not fulfill constitutional requirements. To clarify, Usman Buzdar addressed the March 28 resignation letter to the prime minister and not to the governor which was mandatory as per sub-section 8 of Article 130 of the Constitution.
Moreover, the governor also restored the provincial cabinet. As the Chief Minister, Usman Buzdar has summoned a cabinet meeting today.
Read more: Governor of Punjab orders Usman Buzdar to continue as CM
Omar Sarfaraz Cheema also refused to let the oath-taking ceremony of Hamza Shehbaz be held at the Governor House. Therefore Hamza Shehbaz’s ceremony took place at a private event.
گورنر ہاؤس میں حلف برداری کی اجازت نہیں دی
نئی صورت حال میں غندوں کے ذور پر تقریب کا انعقاد مجرمانہ فعل ہے
انتظامیہ کو مسلسل وارننگ دی کہ اگر فوری طور پر گورنر ہاؤس خالی نہیں کرتے تو نتائج کے ذمہ دار چیف سکرٹری اور آئی جی پنجاب ہونگے
— Omar Sarfraz Cheema (@OmarCheemaPTI) April 30, 2022
All set for oath taking Ceremony of CM Punjab @HamzaSS pic.twitter.com/y8CjPnL7OP
— 𝙆𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙛 𝙎𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙧 𝙠𝙝𝙖𝙣 🦁🇵🇰 (@KashifSabir) April 30, 2022