LAHORE
After being denied the swearing in for the last two weeks, Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz at last took oath to his office on Saturday after winning a legal and political battle as well.
Despite the opposition by Punjab Governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema, the swearing-in ceremony was held at Governor’s House. National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf administered the oath to Hamza Shehbaz as the 21st chief minister of Punjab.
LHC Justice Jawad Hassan on Friday passed the order on the third petition of Hamza Shehbaz seeking implementation of the two previous court orders on his petitions, directing the NA speaker to administer the oath to Hamza on Saturday at 11:30am.
As many as 700 guests were invited to the oath-taking ceremony of Hamza Shehbaz at Governor’s House.
It is pertinent to mention here that the stage was set for Hamza’s oath at the same place two times earlier but the oath could not be administered to him as the President and Governor refused to obey the court orders.
The family members including Maryam Nawaz of this time lucky Hamza participated in his swearing-in ceremony. Apart from the kin, 197 MPAs and MNAs were also invited to the function.
However, Hamza’s father Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was conspicuous of his absence during the oath-taking ceremony as he is currently in Saudi Arabia for the performance of Umrah.
Hamza Shehbaz Sharif who took oath to his office on Saturday has become the youngest chief minister of Punjab.
At the age of 48, Hamza has become the 21st chief minister of the population-wise the largest province of Pakistan – Punjab.
Hamza is the third scion of the Sharif family who took reins of the Punjab chief ministership.
The first Sharif progeny – PML-N supremo and three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif – entered politics and became 9th chief minister of Punjab in 1985.
After Nawaz Sharif, his sibling Shehbaz Sharif stepped in and took the reins of Punjab. He became province’s CM in 1997 and then regained the Punjab throne in 2008 and 2013.
Meanwhile, the S&GAD has notified that Hamza Shehbaz has become chief minister of Punjab.
The department has also issued notification of the removal of former chief minister Usman Buzdar as CM Punjab.
While talking to media after taking oath, Chief Minister Hamza said that he was grateful to Allah for his success. After Allah, he is thankful to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the newly installed CM added.
Hamza said that he was PML-N worker and rued that for the last one month, Punjab had been going through a constitutional crisis.
“A despicable scene was created in the Punjab Assembly. Pervaiz Elahi has torn apart the Constitution and the PTI governor has made fun of the court orders,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz after his oath-taking ceremony reaches the CM House where he was presented guard of honour.
The newly sworn-in Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz contacted PTI dissident group leader Jehangir Khan Tareen.
Sources informed that Hamza would call on Mr Tareen later today and expressed his gratitude on the crucial support of his JKT group which enabled him to win the CM contest in the Punjab Assembly.
Punjab Governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema warned that if the Governor House would not be vacated immediately then IG Punjab and Chief Secretary Punjab will be responsible. He said that the Governor’s House did not allow the swearing in ceremony.
Cheema said that it is a criminal act to hold a ceremony and warned the administration that if the Governor House was not vacated immediately, the Chief Secretary and IG Punjab would be responsible for the results.
In a flurry of events since morning, Punjab Governor Cheema sought Rangers help to vacate Governor’s House from PML-N ‘occupation’ as NA speaker Raja Perviaz Ashraf reached Punjab Governor House in Lahore to administer the oath from Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz Sharif.
In the backdrop of uncertain political situation in Punjab, the city is abuzz with the talk that after the restoration of the Usman Buzdar government by Governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema, the restored chief minister will dissolve the Punjab Assembly today.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Assembly Secretariat has cancelled holidays of its staff. All officers have been directed to immediately reach the assembly today. Punjab Assembly Speaker Ch Pervaiz Elahi will reach the assembly in a bit.
The staff of Speaker Chamber has also been directed to immediately reach the assembly. However, many officers of the PA Secretariat have gone outstation on Eid holiday.
On the other hand, sources have revealed that the S&GAD has not issued any notification of the restoration of Usman Buzdar as chief minister nor did it have issued any notification regarding restoration of the Punjab cabinet.
Sources say that Usman Buzdar has summoned cabinet meeting on his own.
The former Buzdar cabinet members have been extended an invite to attend the session by the PTI instead of the S&GDA.
PTI leaders Mian Aslam Iqbal and Murad Raas have sent the invite to the former Buzdar cabinet members, they add.
