CM Parvez gets vote of confidence: Punjab Assembly speaker

Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi got a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly session, Speaker Sibtain Khan said.

“I congratulate Chaudhry Parvez Elahi for getting the vote of confidence,” he ruled.

Government lawmakers Aslam Iqbal and Raja Basharat presented a resolution for a vote of confidence. 

The opposition cried foul and boycotted the midnight session. The opposition member broke the gallery gate lock and walked out of the assembly. The speaker added the vote count has concluded and 186 votes were cast in favour of the CM . The security around the assembly was stepped up.  

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Protesting, opposition members gathered around the speaker's dais and tore copies of the agenda bore leaving the assembly.

The speaker showed the book of Assembly Rules to the opposition but they refused to budge.

PTI remembers intervened and a clash erupted between lawmakers.

Outside the Punjab Assembly, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah called proceedings “against the rules and Constitution”, and accused the speaker of “bulldozing” the vote of confidence.

Earlier, addressing the session, PPP MPA Syed Usman Mehmood said that the “minority government” was requested to take a confidence vote and then a period for questions could be held as well.

PML-N lawmaker Raheela Khadim Hussain refused to speak during the question and answers session and instead requested that the confidence vote be taken first.

The PA speaker said that the government would take a confidence vote but first the Lahore High Court should be allowed to make the final decision on the matter tomorrow.

He said the government could not remain in power if it did not take a confidence vote and told the opposition to bring a no-confidence motion to settle the matter.

Sardar Shahabuddin Khan lashed out at the opposition for causing a ruckus and said it had nothing to do with assembly proceedings. The PA speaker concurred and said that the lawmakers who do not allow the assembly business to continue should be suspended.

As the opposition lawmakers chanted slogans and came face-to-face with government MPAs, the PA speaker urged them to return to their seats and warned them of action against them.  

Raja Basharat raised the demand for ousting federal minister Rana Sanaullah from the press gallery, saying that plots are being concocted in the gallery.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry claimed the government coalition’s number of 187 lawmakers was complete but Rana Sanaullah said Elahi did not have the support of 186 lawmakers.

الحمدللہ 187 کا نمبر مکمل

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 11, 2023

Meanwhile, Imran khan praised his allies for baking CM Elahi. The PTI accused the opposition coalition of horse trading but welcomed and praised independent MPA Bilal Warraich for joining the government coalition.