Even though the elections for the new Chief Minister of Punjab have concluded, matters have not yet settled in the political structure of our largest province. The scenes witnessed on Saturday in the assembly have left behind several lingering issues. Beyond the violent political polarisation, the very urgent question of taking the oath of the new Chief Minister and later, his cabinet has hit a major stumbling block in the form of new Governor Omer Sarfaraz Cheema and President Arif Alvi.
Both PTI stalwarts look to be collectively moving against the PML-N alliance’s constitutionally mandated right to form government in Punjab. The governor has refused to take the oath on the basis of an Assembly Secretary’s report. After this, when the Prime Minister moved a summary for the removal of the governor with the President, it was clarified that the President would deliberate over this summary. All indications are that this is merely a delaying tactic.
But the report in question, filed by a suspended assembly secretary, looks to be severely compromised, with no relation to the documented facts that occurred during Saturday’s proceedings. The report conveniently misses out on the recorded instances of PTI lawmakers bringing in lotus and the footage of lawmakers attacking both Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari and police officials after they entered in a bid to restore order. The report also glosses over the very serious charge against Speaker Pervaiz Elahi and his security team for disguising themselves as assembly security and then assaulting the Deputy Speaker.
With conflicting stances from both sides, and the hard drive containing the security footage of the Punjab Assembly stolen by an official, it is clear that the video evidence being flashed across screens in the country should be enough to paint a picture of what happened during the proceedings on Saturday. The side that was losing the vote could be seen in engaging in these dangerous tactics.
The President of Pakistan is supposed to be above petty party politics and motivations, which is why it is sad to see the honourable office being used in this way. Even if chosen by a different government, the President of Pakistan is constitutionally mandated to work on the advice of the current cabinet and the Prime Minister, which is why it is strange to see President Alvi looking to prevent the smooth functioning of the new government.
Quite naturally, the new government alliance will look to impeach the President if things continue on this path. It is sad to see that both the office of Prime Minister and President have been abused by the former ruling party and constitutional lines have been blurred to this degree.
But as evidenced by the election of the new Prime Minister and subsequently the new Chief Minister in Punjab, the law always takes its course. In this case too, try as they might, the President and the current governor cannot stand in the way of forming a government in Punjab for too long. All these delaying tactics will come to naught.
Both PTI stalwarts look to be collectively moving against the PML-N alliance’s constitutionally mandated right to form government in Punjab. The governor has refused to take the oath on the basis of an Assembly Secretary’s report. After this, when the Prime Minister moved a summary for the removal of the governor with the President, it was clarified that the President would deliberate over this summary. All indications are that this is merely a delaying tactic.
But the report in question, filed by a suspended assembly secretary, looks to be severely compromised, with no relation to the documented facts that occurred during Saturday’s proceedings. The report conveniently misses out on the recorded instances of PTI lawmakers bringing in lotus and the footage of lawmakers attacking both Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari and police officials after they entered in a bid to restore order. The report also glosses over the very serious charge against Speaker Pervaiz Elahi and his security team for disguising themselves as assembly security and then assaulting the Deputy Speaker.
With conflicting stances from both sides, and the hard drive containing the security footage of the Punjab Assembly stolen by an official, it is clear that the video evidence being flashed across screens in the country should be enough to paint a picture of what happened during the proceedings on Saturday. The side that was losing the vote could be seen in engaging in these dangerous tactics.
The President of Pakistan is supposed to be above petty party politics and motivations, which is why it is sad to see the honourable office being used in this way. Even if chosen by a different government, the President of Pakistan is constitutionally mandated to work on the advice of the current cabinet and the Prime Minister, which is why it is strange to see President Alvi looking to prevent the smooth functioning of the new government.
Quite naturally, the new government alliance will look to impeach the President if things continue on this path. It is sad to see that both the office of Prime Minister and President have been abused by the former ruling party and constitutional lines have been blurred to this degree.
But as evidenced by the election of the new Prime Minister and subsequently the new Chief Minister in Punjab, the law always takes its course. In this case too, try as they might, the President and the current governor cannot stand in the way of forming a government in Punjab for too long. All these delaying tactics will come to naught.