Ruling coalition celebrates Hamza's re-election; PTI vows legal battle

As the ruling party's leaders are celebrating the re-election of PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz as the chief minister of Punjab in a surprise victory, the PTI termed the defeat an attack on democracy and violation of the Supreme Court’s order.

“Aik Zardari Sab Pe Bhaari (one Zardari outweighs all),” tweeted PPP chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as his father, former president Asif Ali Zardari’s efforts to muster support from PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain enabled the PML-N to retain the power in the country’s political heartland, Punjab.

The deputy speaker in the Punjab Assembly, Dost Muhammad Mazari, has declared Hamza Shehbaz winner of the chief minister election who bagged 179 votes against 186 of Chaudhry Pervez Elahi after rejecting 10 votes of the PML-Q citing a letter from the party head, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who barred his party MPAs from voting for the PTI candidate.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz praised the PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat’s decision to support her party in the CM poll, saying “Chaudhary Shujaat Sahib took a principled decision despite the pressure and earned respect and dignity”.

Maryam said Imran not only caused a split among the Chaudhry family of Gujrat for his power politics “but also took away the speakership Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi in light of the Supreme Court decision. This person spreads mischief wherever he goes”.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry shared an excerpt from the apex court verdict on Article 63-A, saying: “Maryam Nawaz and some journalists are saying without reading the order of the Supreme Court that today's ruling is in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court”.

In another tweet, Fawad called the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker “shameless man”.

Former federal minister Asad Umar said, “Eyes of the entire nation are on the highest court of justice whether the door of justice will be opened tonight or not”.

“First a letter came from Qatar... Now a letter has arrived from Gujarat... they had fallen flat on their face before and will fall flat on their face again,” PTI leader Ali Zaidi said.

Meanwhile, after former prime minister Imran Khan called upon the PTI supporters to hold peaceful protests against the Punjab CM election, party activists took to the streets in various cities including Karachi, Lahore, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi.