Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi won the confidence vote in the Punjab Assembly (PA) in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A total of 186 members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) voted in support of Elahi as the chief minister on a resolution moved by Punjab Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Raja Basharat.
The Opposition boycotted the session, claiming that the pre-requisite legal requirements were not met and that Punjab Governor Baligh-Ur-Rehman’s order of vote of confidence was sub judice.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) refused to accept the proceedings, with federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah terming them against the Constitution and “illegal”.
The interior minister, speaking to media outside the Assembly premises, said that the PTI lawyers argued before the court that the governor’s order is unconstitutional.
“So, how did they conduct the confidence vote under Article 130(7) today?” he asked.
“PA Speaker Sibtain Khan said the confidence vote would not be taken during today’s session. However, the agenda was changed at midnight, and a vote of confidence was initiated by deceit.”
On the other hand, PTI leaders celebrated the victory and praised party Chairman Imran Khan for the win.
