Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Sharif’s path to take oath to his office seems to be smooth as President Arif Alvi has appointed Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to administer the swearing-in of the awaiting CM-elect in compliance with the Lahore High Court order, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Sources revealed that Chief Minister-elect Hamza might take oath to his office in the evening today (Saturday) at Governor House.
The Governor House administration has been intimated in this regard by the Presidency.
However, the Governor House administration has said that they have got verbal directions. As soon as they get written notification by the Presidency, then the administration would determine time for the swearing-in ceremony.
The Governor House administration further revealed that the ceremony might be conducted at 4pm or later today.
It is pertinent to mention here that Governor Punjab Omar Sarfraz Cheema has refused to administer oath to Hamza. But the Lahore High Court in its yesterday’s ruling asked president to appoint another representative who would perform the constitutional duty.
Hamza Shehbaz was elected as chief minister of Punjab after getting 197 votes in the Punjab Assembly session convened on April 16 which saw the worst kind of ruckus during the election.
The very next day, on April 17, Hamza was ready to take oath to his office at Governor House at 8pm but the governor refused to take his oath saying he considered his election disputed in the light of report prepared by the Punjab assembly secretariat.
PM visits Lahore
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is coming Lahore today (Saturday). It will be his first visit to his city after becoming prime minister.
Premier Shehbaz will take part in the swearing-in ceremony of Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz.
He will also hold meetings with top officials of bureaucracy.
Preparations afoot at Governor House
Preparations are under way at Governor House, Lahore for oath-taking ceremony of Hamza Shehbaz.
Large hoardings of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former premier Nawaz Sharif and CM-elect Hamza Shehbaz have been erected.
The stage has also been prepared and three chillers installed at the place. Sofas and billboards have been placed.
As many as 600 guests have been invited to the ceremony.
Sanjrani still in Islamabad, unaware of his task
On the other hand, it is quite strange that Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani who has been appointed by President Arif Alvi to administer oath to Hamza Sharif is still not been intimated in this regard.
Sources said that the Senate chairman was still in Islamabad unaware of his newly-assigned task. They said Sanjrani would head to Lahore once he was informed.
They said the Punjab government plane had already been on the standby at Islamabad Airport.
Reporters Rao Dilshad Hussain, Umar Aslam and Usman Khan