The federal government has appointed PTI leader Omar Sarfraz Cheema as the new governor of Punjab, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a tweet uploaded on Sunday, Federal Information and Law Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain announced that Omar Cheema has been appointed as the new Punjab governor.

https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1510502391325638659

While reacting to his appointment, governor-designate Omar Sarfraz Cheema in a statement said he was grateful to Prime Minister Imran Khan for appointing him as Punjab Governor.

He said "I am a PTI worker and will try to do my best to fulfil the responsibility."

Earlier, the federal government has fired Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar from his post with immediate effect. In a tweet uploaded on Sunday morning, Federal Information and Law Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said “The new governor of Punjab will be announced later.”

He further said that the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker will be the acting governor in accordance with the Constitution.

The federal minister did not give any reasons for the abrupt departure of Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar as Punjab governor.

https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1510467728301490182

A spokesman for the Punjab governor has also confirmed the removal of Chaudhry Sarwar from his post.

It is to be noted here that Ch Sarwar could not complete his term as Punjab Governor for the second consecutive time.

Previously, he had resigned as Punjab Governor during the reign of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in 2015 reportedly after developing differences with the party leadership.

He had then announced his defection to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and was made Governor of Punjab after the party’s success in 2018 elections, but, has now been removed again before completing his term.

The 24News TV channel has learnt the reason behind removal of Chaudhry Sarwar as Punjab Governor.

Chaudhry Sarwar received orders from the federal government late last night which he refused to obey by declaring them as “illegal”.

Following which the federal government removed him from governor’s office.

Reporters Qazzafi Butt and Rao Dilshad Hussain