Pakistan PM’s son Hamza Sharif takes oath as Punjab CM after dramatic re-election
The Hindu
The run-off election for the post of Punjab Chief Minister was held in the Punjab Assembly in line with the instructions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Hamza Shehbaz, the son of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Saturday took oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab province, a day after he was re-elected to the post by just three votes amidst high drama that sparked protests in the country and prompted the rival candidate to move the Supreme Court.
Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman administered the oath to Mr. Hamza, 47.
The run-off election for the post of Punjab Chief Minister was held in the Punjab Assembly on Friday, in line with the instructions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Mr. Hamza was declared the winner in the election though his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party did not have a majority in the Assembly after key by-elections held on July 17.
Mr. Hamza managed to retain the post of Punjab Chief Minister by the barest of margins after Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari rejected 10 votes of his rival candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s party Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), an ally of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), citing Article 63-A of the Constitution.
In the 368-member Punjab Assembly, Mr. Hamza’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) received 179 votes, while Mr. Elahi’s party garnered 176 votes.
Ten votes of Mr. Elahi’s PML-Q were not counted on the pretext that they had violated the orders of their party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
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