LAHORE : In the midst of a power struggle in Punjab, Governor Balighur Rehman de-notified Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in the late hours of Thursday, officially dissolving the provincial government.
“Since CM has withheld from securing Vote of Confidence at the prescribed day and time thus he ceases to hold office. “Orders were given this evening,” he said on Twitter, attaching a copy of the notification.
“Consequent to the facts that Ch Pervaiz Elahi, CM Punjab, refrained from obtaining vote of confidence at 1600 hrs yesterday, in line with an Order under Article 130 (7) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, issued under my hand on 19th December 2022, in line with Rule 22 (7) of the Rules of Procedures of Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997, and that he still has not done so ever after the lapse of another twenty four hours, I am satisfied that he does not command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Punjab Assembly and therefore ceases to hold his office with immediate effect,” the notification stated.
The provincial government has been dissolved, and the chief minister has been requested to stay in office until a new CM is chosen, according to the announcement.
“In accordance with Article 133 of the Constitution, Ch Pervaiz Elahi, former Chief Minister of Punjab, is now requested to continue to hold official until his replacement assumes the position of Chief Minister,” the statement continued.