Hamza Shehbaz will take CM oath, even if entire PTI falls ill: Marriyum

Governor Cheema reportedly hospitalised in Lahore days after Hamza moved LHC to avert 'constitutional crisis'

ISLAMABAD:

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb stated on Sunday that Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz will take the oath, “even if the entire Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) falls ill, including President Arif Alvi and Governor of Punjab Omar Sarfraz Cheema.”

The information minister, while answering questions raised by ex-premier Imran Khan in his recent press conference through the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) official Twitter handle, stated that the former ruling party had no authority to question the functioning of courts at night, as they participate in flouting the orders of the courts.

“The president of Pakistan appointed by Imran Khan is actively violating the Constitution in Punjab, so the courts are open at night,” Marriyum said.

وزیر اطلاعات مریم اورنگزیب نے رات کو عدالتیں کھلنے کی وجہ بتا دی

عدالتوں کے احکامات کی دھجیاں اڑاتے ہیں اور پھر کہتے ہیں کہ رات کو عدالتں کیوں کھلیں؟

عمران صاحب آپ کا صدر پنجاب میں آئین شکنی کر رہا ہے، اس لئے رات کو عدالتیں کھلتی ہیں

— PML(N) (@pmln_org) April 24, 2022

The federal minister accused former prime minister Imran of being a fascist, adding that he should stop violating the Constitution.

“They [PTI] hold the Constitution, democracy and parliament hostage and then ask why are the courts open?” she questioned.

Marriyum expressed that the nation was a witness to the violation of the Constitution at the hands of President Alvi. She furthered that the country’s judiciary was being dragged into Imran Khan’s “conspiracy” and being labelled a traitor.

Read Hamza’s inauguration hangs in balance as governor refuses to endorse election

The minister claimed that all, “unconstitutional gangs, including Imran Khan, his President Arif Alvi, and the Governor of Punjab” should be punished under Article 6 for treason.

“You are sick-minded, undemocratic and fascists, your dark age is fading,” she added.

Marriyum's remarks came after reports of Governor Cheema reportedly being hospitalised in Lahore on complaints of food poisoning and fever were doing rounds.

According to media reports, doctors at the governor’s residence conducted a medical assessment after which he was taken to the hospital for medical tests.

Earlier this week, Hamza Shehbaz had moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) to avert a "constitutional crisis", after the governor’s reluctance to administer the oath. In his petition, Hamza had pleaded that the governor violated his constitutional duties as well as the court order by delaying the administration of the oath to the CM-elect.

The high court Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti on Thursday directed the Punjab advocate general to assist the court after taking instructions from Punjab Governor Omar Cheema regarding a delay in the administration of the oath.

Read More Alvi to ‘consider’ Hamza’s swearing-in

Advocate General Punjab (AGP) Ahmad Awais was told to assist the high court on Friday with the response from the governor.

Despite being given two opportunities, AGP Ahmad Awais had failed to satisfy the court whether the governor had addressed the relevant authority in black and white about his inability or the reason why the matter of administration of oath was being delayed.

However, on Saturday, it was reported that President Arif Alvi would “consider” the matter of the oath-taking of Punjab CM after receiving a summary from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office on the issue.