In a drastic turn of events, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan to pave the way for Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi to replace him and the resultant support of the PML-Q against the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, reported Aaj News.
PM's aide Shahbaz Gill tweeted the update that has been widely reported in local media but based on sources.
"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will support Chaudhry Pervez Elahi as chief ministerial candidate. PML-Q announces support to PM in no-confidence motion," tweeted Gill.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib also tweeted about Buzdar's resignation while announcing PM Imran's decision to nominate Pervez Elahi as the next chief minister.
"All issues were settled in the meeting. PML-Q expresses confidence in PM and announces support," he tweeted.
Rift within PML-Q
Meanwhile, Federal Minister Housing and Works and PML-Q leader Tariq Bashir Cheema has resigned from his post.
The decision, which comes in the wake of reports that PM Imran has decided to appoint PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, suggests a rift within the PML-Q over the nomination of Pervaiz Elahi.
"I will leave Pakistan if I have to but I won't in favour of Imran Khan in the no-confidence vote," he said.
No-trust motion
Earlier today, the opposition in the Punjab Assembly submitted a no-confidence motion against Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
At least 119 lawmakers -- including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People’s Party MPAs -- signed the document of no-trust motion against the chief minister in the Assembly Secretariat. The names included Rana Mashhood, Syed Hassan Murtaza, Ramzan Siddique, Malik Ahmad Saeed Khan and Mian Naseer Ahmad.
“Majority of the House does not have confidence in [Punjab] Chief Minister Usman Buzdar as he is not running the affairs of the province according to the Constitution. He has smashed the democratic norms in Punjab owing to the ongoing situation in the country. Therefore this House has expressed no-confidence against the chief minister,” read the document submitted in the Assembly Secretariat, a copy of which is available with Aaj Digital.
