A tough contest is expected in the Punjab Assembly on Sunday (today) between the joint opposition’s candidate Hamza Shehbaz and the government’s ally Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for the office of the chief minister.
The office fell vacant after the resignation of Sardar Usman Buzdar following a deal between the ruling PTI and the PML-Q a few days ago.
Both candidates need at least 186 votes in the house of 371 to become chief minister.
The Nawaz League (PML-N) is highly optimistic of regaining the hold of Punjab that it lost in 2018.
The opposition claims that its joint strength comprising its own 160 MPAs (PML-N total strength is 165 of which five MPAs are siding with the government), seven MPAs of the PPP and rest from the rebel groups of PTI headed by Jahnagir Khan Tareen (JKT) and Abdul Aleem Khan and four of five independents, stands above 188.
On the other hand, the ruling coalition candidate has also used his experience and influence in winning the support of JKT group MPAs and publicly, MPA Rafaqat Gilani, a part of JKT group has claimed that he was “siding with Imran and cannot leave him in crucial time”.
Rafaqat claims that nearly five to six MPAs of JKT group, who are PTI MPAs would vote for Elahi. He had reached PA along with Moonis Elahi, the son of Pervaiz Elahi. On the other hand, Malik Nauman Langrial, Saeed Niwani, Tahir Randhawa and many other MPAs of PTI have openly announced to support Hamza in the CM contest. Nauman also held a press conference with Hamza in which he announced his support for him.
Earlier, the nomination papers of Pervaiz Elahi and Hamza Shehbaz were accepted. The polling will take place on Sunday and Deputy Speaker Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari will preside the session.
PTI, PML-Q MEETING: Addressing the joint parliamentary meeting of the PTI and the PML-Q, Elahi said the first Ramazan will bring the good news of victory for us.
He said that “we are a unit and will remain united”.
Acting Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on the occasion said that Elahi would win, and his victory would be the victory of the coalition.
The PML-N, meanwhile, announced the formation of a new government in Punjab after Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan groups expressed support for Hamza in the Punjab Assembly.
It was announced by the Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz.
He said his party, the PPP and the Tareen group would form a government in the Punjab together with independent members.
TAREEN GROUP: Earlier, the Tareen group announced support for Hamza in the Punjab Assembly.
Noman Langarial, a senior member of the group, was present in the media talk with Hamza and said that the group’s decision was for the betterment of the country and the province.
“Jahangir Tareen has done many favours to the PTI, but Imran Khan made Usman Buzdar the chief minister, who promoted corruption and damaged the party,” he said, adding Buzdar had resigned after pressure from their group.
He said the group was playing the role of an opposition in the government and supported Hamza to serve the province.
Earlier, Hamza held a meeting with the group, which was attended by 16 members of the Punjab Assembly. Later, Hamza arranged dinner for MPAs, who had announced supporting him. They belonged to Tareen, Aleem and Asad Khokhar groups. Many PTI legislators also attended. Their number reached above 200.
