Punjab CM Usman Buzdar given ‘free hand’ by PM Imran Khan

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has been given the free hand by Prime Minister Imran Khan to independently perform his duties for the province after rejecting the demands of Jahangir Khan Tareen’s like-minded group.

The inside story of PM Imran Khan and Usman Buzdar has evolved around the hot topics including the opposition’s no-confidence motion against the prime minister and Punjab chief minister, Jahangir Khan Tareen like-minded group’s demands and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strategy to cope with the political challenges.

Sources told News360 that PM Khan has given the free hand to Punjab CM Usman Buzdar to independently go ahead with the plan to contact lawmakers from the opposition parties.

The premier directed CM Buzdar to contact Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers in Punjab besides ordering him to gain the confidence of the legislators from the ally party, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q).

Vote of no-confidence against PM: procedures and challenges to opposition, govt

Sources said that the PML-N Punjab lawmakers are expected to support the current chief minister who had been given development funds by Buzdar administration for their constituencies. The PTI-led government in Punjab is having a strong position to get support of a number of members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) of PML-N and PML-Q, sources added.

Separately, PM Imran Khan also directed PTI lawmakers to gain support of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) ahead of the no-trust move proceedings.

JKT like-minded faction demands

The JKT like-minded group within the ruling PTI had demanded the federal government to replace CM Usman Buzdar to refrain them from considering other political options.

The Jahangir Khan Tareen that has recently energised by the inclusion of another PTI estranged leader and former Punjab minister Aleem Khan insisted on bringing a replacement of CM Usman Buzdar. On the other hand, another faction of PTI lawmakers in Punjab led by Ghazanfar Abbas Chheena has also surfaced that also hailed demands of removing Buzdar.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail had discussed JKT like-minded group’s demands with PM Khan, however, the premier rejected it and showed a complete confidence on CM Usman Buzdar.

No-confidence motion against PM

The lawmakers of the opposition parties had submitted a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan to the National Assembly (NA) Secretariat which needs the support of a minimum of 172 legislators for its success.

The no-confidence motion against the prime minister was submitted after being signed by 86 lawmakers from the opposition parties, whereas, the opposition benches also submitted a requisition for summoning a session of the National Assembly (NA).

PM Imran Khan focuses on SKMT Karachi instead of no-trust move?

The no-confidence motion and requisition for the NA session were received by the additional secretary Muhammad Mushtaq at the NA Secretariat. Those who had submitted the no-confidence motion yesterday included Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ayaz Sadiq, Shazia Marri, Naveed Qamar, Rana Sanaullah, Aliya Kamran and Shahida Akhtar Ali.

In the 342-seat National Assembly, the opposition needed to get the support of a minimum of 172 lawmakers for the success of the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan.

The opposition and treasury benches are claiming to have the required numbers for defeating each other.

The NA speaker is bound to summon a session of the National Assembly within 3 to 7 days after the submission of the no-confidence motion, according to the rules. The speaker is also bound to summon a session of the National Assembly within 14 days after the submission of a requisition.

Yesterday, PM Imran Khan had given a clear message to the opposition that the PTI government is having no threat from the no-confidence motion besides saying no to replace the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar which is tantamount to surrender before the Jahangir Khan Tareen group.