Punjab govt flip-flops official stance over Zahid Hamid's resignation

Govt once again criticises controversial amendment to Khatm-e-Nabuwwat clause to save party position in the province

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government in Punjab once again condemned the controversial amendment to the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (Finality of Prophethood) clause to save its party position in the province.

The local government flip-flopped its position on the issue, first demanding for those responsible to be removed from the federal cabinet.

Later on, however, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded former federal law minister Zahid Hamid for reversing the controversial amendment immediately.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah repeatedly stated that Hamid was not at fault and hence should not step down.



He previously told The Express Tribune that Shehbaz had not asked him to resign, with the chief minister categorically stating that he was not at fault.

Interestingly, in the past two weeks the local government assessed the prevailing situation and had not issued a single statement in the matter.

Only after Hamid's resignation emerged in the media that Salman Shehbaz tweeted his father's speech during a worker convention. In the speech, in front of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif , he demanded those responsible to step down.

Malik Muhammad Ahmad, spokesperson for PML-N Punjab, then denounced the controversial bill, as well as, reiterating the Punjab CM's position on the matter.

The party spokesperson went on to say that the Punjab law minister would have also stepped down if he was found culpable. His stance, however, was in stark contrast to that of Sanaullah who had repeatedly defended Hamid.

Sanaullah has been touted to be the most powerful law minister in Punjab and also happens to be a close aide to Shehbaz.

The Punjab CM did not reaffirm his own demand of Hamid's resignation in media talks.