PML-Q gets one more cabinet post in Punjab

Muhammad Rizwan is a businessman and remained member of the provincial assembly during 2002-07

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to expand provincial cabinet by including another minister from the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), The Express Tribune learnt on Thursday.

The new minister, Muhammad Rizwan (popularly known as Bao Rizwan) from PP-128 Sialkot-IX, will take oath on Friday (today). However, the decision of his portfolio will be finalised by the premier later.

Following the induction of a new minister, the size of the provincial cabinet will swell to 35 and the number of ministers belonging to the PML-Q will reach two as Hafiz Ammar Yasir from PP-24 Chakwal-IV is already enjoying Ministry of Mines and Minerals portfolio.

Information available on the Punjab Assembly website indicated that Rizwan is a businessman and he graduated from the Government College, Lahore. He remained the member of the provincial assembly during 2002-07 and has returned to the Punjab Assembly for the second consecutive term in general elections 2018.

PML-Q Member National Assembly (MNA) Chaudhry Moonis Elahi called on Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar at Governor's House on Thursday to discuss induction of his party's minister and current political scenario in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarwar said the prime agenda of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is supremacy of the constitution, rule of law and national progress. The PTI government has set a new precedent of political neutrality and high moral standards, he said

The governor said that the government is taking all political parties on board and making all decisions with mutual consultation of its allies. "As per vision of Imran Khan, we all have to make Pakistan strong and prosperous."

The governor said the government is taking unprecedented measures to provide better healthcare and education services to the public. He added that after the Prime Minister Health Insurance Programme, issuance of health cards for people of South Punjab is a gift for deserving people by the PTI government.

Sarwar appreciated the role of Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. "He is a prudent politician and working for democracy and betterment of the country. The government is making parliament stronger in the true sense of the word."

Besides two ministries, PML central leader, Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi, is already enjoying the portfolio of the provincial assembly speaker.

In November 2018, a video clip went viral on social media showing the PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen, Punjab Minister for Mines and Minerals Hafiz Ammar Yasir and the PML-Q leaders, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Federal Minister for Housing Tariq Bashir Cheema. In this leaked video clip of a meeting showed a rift between Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and Sarwar in Punjab as Elahi was complaining Tareen that Punjab governor is trying to overshadow Buzdar. Elahi asked Tareen to direct Punjab governor to remain in his limits and do not interfere in provincial government's affairs.

Following this video clip, it was a common perception among political circles that Elahi had intentionally leaked this video clip to pressurise the government to appoint another minister from his party. Earlier, political pundits claimed that Elahi was trying to secure a portfolio for his son Moonis Elahi, but Rizwan's induction as the minister has proved their claim half-truth.