Usman Buzdar still Punjab CM despite ouster of PTI govt

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Buzdar is still holding Punjab’s chief minister office so far in a surprise move despite the ouster of the PTI government in the Centre.

Usman Buzdar, who had become the first PTI leader whose resignation was taken as Punjab CM by former prime minister Imran Khan before the no-trust motion, is still present at the office.

Interestingly, all PTI office-bearers had been sent packing including ex-PM Imran Khan, Chaudhry Sarwar, federal cabinet members, the party’s 135 lawmakers resigned, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) governors including Imran Ismail and Shah Farman, except Usman Buzdar.

Usman Buzdar is still Punjab’s chief minister as the governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema found that his resignation was filed in accordance with the law and termed it unconstitutional. The development creates an oath crisis after Hamza Shehbaz’s election as the new Punjab CM.

The governor claimed that the resignation did not meet the legal requirements of Article-130 Section 8 as Buzdar sent the resignation to the prime minister but not the chief minister in accordance with the rules.

Despite the election of the new Punjab CM, the province’s political turmoil is not over yet as it was speculated earlier that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government tried to remove the Punjab governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema, however, the summary could only be approved by President Dr Arif Alvi. It was learnt that the Governor House did not receive any order from the president yet.

Legal experts said that PTI is currently holding two top political posts including the president and the Punjab government which is being used to create troubles for Hamza Shehbaz.

They said that President Arif Alvi could delay the change of Punjab governor for a maximum period of 25 days. In other words, the PTI has become an obstacle for Hamza Shahbaz besides creating another controversy of Usman Buzdar’s resignation.