PML-N candidate Hamza Shehbaz elected CM Punjab in the run of election while securing 179 votes
LAHORE, July 22 (SABAH): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Muhammad Hamza Shehbaz Sharif has been elected chief minister Punjab in the run of election while securing 179 votes. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi secured 176 votes. Meanwhile 10 votes of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) were rejected by the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Sardar Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari while citing the letter written by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
The Punjab Assembly session chaired by Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari was held at 7:00 PM nearly delay of three hours after the specified time of 4:00 PM on the directions of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Sardar Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari announcing the result said that he has received letter from Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and I am reading the details of the letter in front media, whole house and whole media of the world. Sardar Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari said Chaudhry Shujaat has written that his party members are directed to cast their votes in favor of Hamza Shahbaz Sharif. The names of all the PML-Q members of the Punjab Assembly were written in the letter.
Sardar Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari said that he is rejecting 10 votes of the PML-Q according to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He said that head of the party issues directions for voting in favor of any candidate. Sardar Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari said that he contacted Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain over telephone and he confirmed that the letter he has written to him is original. Sardar Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari said that PTI could challenge his ruling in the court as he is working on the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Sardar Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari said that the meeting was held on the directions of court for the election of the chief minister after the completion of the proceedings the sessions is prorogued.
Speaking on the floor of the house, PTI leader Raja Basharat challenged the deputy speaker’s ruling, saying as custodian of the house he could not reject the lawmakers’ votes.
“Chaudhary Shujaat is not authorised to prevent members from voting… he does not have the authority to stop any member,” he said.
However, rejecting the objections of the PTI leader, the deputy speaker said he was performing his duties as per the orders of the Supreme Court.
After the announcement members of PML-N and allied parties congratulated Hamza Shahbaz Sharif on winning the election.