Buzdar vows to stand with PM

Says he has never aspired to a political position

LAHORE:

A day after offering his resignation following the submission of a no-trust motion against him in the Punjab Assembly, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar announced on Tuesday that he would always stand firmly with Prime Minister Imran Khan to fulfil the promise of 'Naya Pakistan'.

In a series of tweets, Buzdar said he had tendered his resignation to the premier and was awaiting its acceptance. He said he would leave office once his resignation would be approved, adding that “ministries and positions are impermanent matters”.

“Commitment to the party and to the people is the most important thing,” he reiterated.

Buzdar emphasised that he had “never aspired” for any political position as the country and nation took precedence over his own self.

The chief minister highlighted his tenure’s achievements, which included the implementation of a manifesto aimed at establishing an Islamic state, the launch of “thousands" of welfare projects, health insurance for Punjab's citizens and the right to resources for each district.

He further claimed that under his leadership work had begun on “23 new hospitals, 21 new universities, two canals, four dams, more than 150 new colleges, 10 special economic zones, construction of thousands of kilometres of roads, upgradation of 27,000 schools, health cards, e-governance project, 36 service centres,” and Rescue 1122 centres for 79 tehsils.

Usman Buzdar also said in a statement that his post was a trust of the people as well as the prime minister.

He said he had resigned in the larger interest of the country and party. He also asserted that he was a lieutenant of PM Khan and would remain so. He said everything else would sustain if the prime minister would remain in power.

"PM Imran Khan is my leader and I would respond to his every call while continuing to stand by the party in difficult times," he added.

Chief Minister Buzdar said he had assumed the post for serving the masses and worked day and night for the purpose."

Meanwhile, a number of lawmakers including Hashim Jawan Bakht, Muhammad Sibtain Khan, Mian Aslam Khan, Taimur Bhatti, Hanif Pitafi, Samiullah Chaudhry, Amer Nawaz Chandia, Javed Akhtar Lund, Mamoon Tarar and Ghazain Abbasi called on Chief Minister Buzdar and discussed the political situation with him.

"I have burnt the midnight oil to come up to the expectations of the party leader and ensured merit-based governance," the chief minister said while speaking to them.

$I have full trust over PM Imran Khan and the party would be united under his,"/he concluded.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers submitted the no-trust motion against Chief Minister Buzdar on Monday, requesting the Punjab Assembly speaker to summon a session on it.

A total of 127 lawmakers, including PPP and PML-N MPAs, signed the motion. Among the lawmakers who signed the notice were PML-N's Rana Mashhood, Sami Ullah Khan, Mian Naseer Ahmed, Ramzan Saddique Bhatti and Malik Ahmed; and PPP MPA and parliamentary secretary in the Punjab Assembly Syed Hassan Murtaza.

The Punjab Assembly is now all set to elect a new chief minister of the province. The development comes after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) offered the province's chief minister’s slot to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in order to ensure that the alliance between the two parties at the Centre and in Punjab remains intact.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2022.