Pervaiz Elahi will not be Punjab CM after 4pm: Rana Sanaullah

Says governor will de-notify Pervaiz Elahi as CM if he fails to seek vote of confidence: Hamza Shehbaz will be consensus candidate of opposition: Says governor’s rule can be imposed in Punjab for six months: Lashes out at Imran, dubs him anti-Pakistan: Believes PTI can’t be able to get relief from courts as it is going against the constitution by not holding vote of confidence,

Lahore_  The escalating showdown between PTI-PML-Q’s Punjab government and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance head on as Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman is likely to issue a declaration over Chief Minister Parvez Elahi’s fate.

Earlier, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed that Pervez Elahi would no longer be the chief minister of Punjab after 4pm.

He said Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman would issue the declaration at 4pm outlining Elahi’s removal as the CM as the governor had constitutional authority to direct the CM to secure a vote of confidence.

“If the vote of confidence is not taken by 4pm, the chief minister will not hold office according to the Constitution. And if the resistance continues, the governor can also request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif impose governor’s rule in the province,” he added.

He also said that the governor of Punjab can also request the prime minister to impose governor rule.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will not remain Punjab’s chief minister after 4pm today (Wednesday) while revealing that Hamza Shehbaz is their consensus candidate for the post,

In his statement, the interior minister said that Governor Balighur Rehman would issue a new notification in which he would de-notify Pervaiz Elahi as Punjab chief minister.

He said that the governor might request the prime minister to impose Governor’s rule in Punjab. He said that he would ask the bureaucracy to act upon the law and constitution.

Sanaullah said that the Tehreek-e-Insaf could not defy the constitution no matter what.

He said according to the constitution, when asked by the governor, the chief minister must seek the vote of confidence from the assembly.

“We know that they do not have required numbers in the assembly. If they had required numbers, they would have taken vote of confidence,” Sanaullah added.

The interior minister said that Hamza Shehbaz was their consensus candidate for the chief ministership.

He denied having any knowledge regarding any talks with Ch Pervaiz Elahi.

“If it has been confirmed that he (CM Elahi) is not taking vote of confidence, Governor Balighur Rehman will issue a new notification at 4pm,” Sanaullah said.

The interior minister said that if they took an unconstitutional step then the governor’s rule might be imposed in Punjab. If the governor’s rule imposed, it will remain in force for six months, he added.

He observed elections are conducted only when assemblies are toppled. “But right now, they are running away from dissolving even Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly,” he jeered at the PTI leadership.

He lashed out at Imran Khan saying he was working on anti-Pakistan agenda. He said the PTI chief and his workers had reached the height of ignorance. They have been clamouring about assemblies’ dissolution for the whole month but nothing has happened, he said adding that in this case, the governor reserved the right to use his authority.

He said Imran wanted Pakistan to default. He said except the PTI chief, everyone including establishment, judiciary, politicians and the nation wanted stability in the country.

He claimed that Imran would not get any relief from the courts. They have no other option, but to seek vote of confidence, Sanaullah made it clear.