Punjab’s political melee

The governance in Punjab has become a typical example of partisanship. The tug of war between the PTI and the PML-N to get their candidate elected for chief ministership has literally pushed the country’s largest province in an administrative void. This is for the fourth consecutive week that the province is without a chief executive, since Usman Buzdar resigned, and the swearing in ceremony of Hamza Shehbaz is being delayed for reasons of exigency. The buck stops at the offices of the President and the Governor, which is why the Lahore High Court has duly instructed the high constitutional office holders to go ahead with the oath-taking and not to hamper the binding constitutional duty any further.

The high court’s decision has come on a petition that sought its intervention, and directions for the Federation to administer oath. The Governor of Punjab stands directed to fulfil the obligation before April 28 (Wednesday). It, however, remains to be seen whether the nominee of the federal government cares for the orders or once again adopts an Ostrich syndrome. The oath and subsequent litigation has acquired an interesting proposition. The provincial assembly Speaker as well the Governor, who are on the same political leaning, believe that Hamza’s election is ultra vires, and the proceedings were marred with violence and vandalism on the floor of the house. Whereas, the PML-N and its allies, which comprise many who defected from the PTI, believe that it was a conscious decision and Hamza’s election is de jure.

A glance at the court order, nonetheless, points out a decorum that the justices have promptly followed. Pundits of law say that the language used is not directive and is suggestive in essence. There are however some who believe that the court has no powers to question the conduct and executive powers of the Governor and the President of Pakistan. Thus, this delaying tactic on the part of the Federation, and the muted vocabulary of the decision, could prolong the stalemate. There has been no word from the Governor’s office on the court observation, and it squarely hints at another impasse in the making. Some media reports also claim that the PTI’s top leadership has consulted a former chief justice of Pakistan on how to deal with the situation — something that hints at the party’s intentions to go on dilly-dallying on an issue that warrants an urgent settlement. One may expect the PTI approaching the Supreme Court on the matter.

This stand-off is detrimental to political stability, and the sooner it is resolved the better. The honourable chief justice of the Lahore High Court has rightly remarked that provisions of the Constitution suggest prompt formation of governments, and thus there isn’t any ‘vacuum’ or ‘space’ to delay the administration of oath. It would be wise if reservations in the political context are addressed amicably, and the chaos that has set in administrative affairs is done away instantly with the induction of chief minister at the earliest.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2022.

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