Governor says Usman Buzdar still CM but Hamza to take CM oath today

Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema has rejected the resignation of Usman Buzdar. The development has come a few hours before PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz Sharif was set to be sworn in. Lahore High Court on Friday, directed National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to administer the oath to the CM-elect after President Arif Alvi and Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema failed to obey earlier court orders.

Omar Sarafraz Cheema, in his letter to Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi, stated that the March 28 resignation letter of Usman Buzdar was not in accordance with the rules as it was addressed to the prime minister and not to the governor, which was mandatory as per sub-section 8 of Article 130 of the Constitution.

Governor Cheema then said the resignation was unconstitutional and so rejected, and according to him, Usman Buzdar is still Chief Minister.

Hamza took oath today as Chief Minister Punjab. He was administered the oath by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on the directives of the LHC as the CM-elect had sought the high court’s intervention on the matter.