Parvez Elahi Refuses To Step In As Acting Governor

LAHORE: Despite the Cabinet Division alerting the governor, Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has refused to assume command of acting governor following the ouster of Omar Sarfraz Cheema. The situation in Punjab’s constitution is far from finished.

The legal experts feel that Dost Mazari cannot take the job of the acting governor, even if Mr Elahi continues to insist. This might leave Punjab without a governor for at least a week.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recommended Balighur Rehman, a loyalist of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to President Arif Alvi on Saturday. Mr Rehman’s appointment will be made public if the president does not follow the premier’s suggestion within 10 days.

Elahi made a visit to the Punjab Assembly Secretariat on Tuesday to carry out his obligations as a speaker, which he does regularly.

Party spokeswoman: “Mr Elahi has not accepted the job of the acting governor as he is engaging constitutional experts in this respect”.

Removal of Cheema, according to the attorney general, is “contempt of president.” He also phoned the dismissed governor and conveyed his support for him, as well. In the face of all the government’s unlawful measures, “we shall continue to protect the Constitution and the law.”

According to Mr Elahi, the administration has established a factory of unconstitutional actions, “but I will carry out my duties in line with the Constitution and law.”

Mr Cheema stated that he will make choices based on the Constitution’s supremacy. On Tuesday, he took to Twitter to denounce the “unconstitutional” news that he had been removed from office. He stated, “I am talking with legal professionals and will shortly disclose my next line of action,” Mr Cheema.