LAHORE: Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema has termed the oath of Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz unconstitutional and announced to file a reference in the Supreme Judicial Council against the judge of the Lahore High Court (LHC) who had issued orders regarding the oath administration.
Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema has now taken aim at the judiciary after writing letters to the president, prime minister and army chief.
While addressing a press conference in Lahore yesterday, he said that the LHC chief justice is a respectable personality but the authority of the high court was misused. There is no provision in the Constitution which allows the oath administration from Hamza Shahbaz.
He said that Justice Jawad Hassan issued the wrong verdict and senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan also agreed with him. He added that Yousaf Raza Gilani was also unaware of such law regarding the oath administration.
The Punjab governor said that he is sending a reference against the LHC judge to the Supreme Judicial Council in accordance with the constitution.
Earlier, Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema had written separate letters to the Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the oath of Hamza Shahbaz.
In his letter to the army chief, Governor Punjab appealed to General Bajwa to play his role in restoring public confidence in the national and provincial governments.
LHC announces verdict on Punjab CM-elect Hamza Shehbaz oath case
He wrote that the election of Hamza Shahbaz is unconstitutional and he has been imposed just for being the son of the prime minister. Cheema also sent copies of letters to the president and the prime minister to the COAS Bajwa.
Earlier, the governor wrote in his letter to PM Sharif that the resignation of Usman Buzdar was controversial and the election of a new chief minister was also unconstitutional which Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has received the support of de facto members in the Punjab Assembly.
The letter further stated that the LHC was approached for the disputed election and the main character of all the unconstitutional processes is Hamza Shahbaz, whereas, the chief secretary and IG Punjab have also played their roles regarding the oath ceremony. He added that Shehbaz, Hamza and other family members were also facing corruption cases.
He vowed to protect the Constitution using his all powers and no power could refrain him from stopping the unconstitutional steps in the province.
It is being speculated that Governor Cheema will soon meet the president and the army chief to brief them on the political and constitutional crisis in the province and consult with both the personalities to resolve the constitutional crisis.