LAHORE, Dec 23 (FD): Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman de-notified Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in the wee hours of Friday for failing to take a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly on Wednesday, December 21, on his order.
A notification issued by the Governor House after midnight said that Chief Minister Elahi ceased to hold the office immediately while the provincial cabinet stood dissolved. However, it added that Elahi would continue under Article 133 of the Constitution until a new chief minister was elected by the provincial assembly.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — a strong ally of Elahi — rejected the governor’s notification. PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said that the notification holds “no legal status” and Elahi also announced approaching the court first thing tomorrow.
“Since CM has refrained from obtaining vote of confidence at the appointed day and time therefore he ceases to hold office. Orders issued this evening,” Rehman wrote on his Twitter handle, sharing a copy of the notification.
Reacting over the governor’s order, senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Punjab governor had no power to de-notify the chief minister. “This notification has no place in the Constitution. Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has never refused to take vote of confidence,” Chaudhry said in a statement.
“Whenever the speaker will call the provincial assembly session, Pervaiz Elahi will take vote of confidence. The party will initiate legal action against the Punjab governor, he said, adding that Chaudhry Perviaz Elahi would continue his work as the chief minister.
