'No need for further action': PML-N withdraws no-confidence motion against Elahi

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) on Friday withdrew the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leader and incumbent Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

In the Punjab Assembly, PML-N Chief Whip Khalil Tahir Sindhu and others submitted the signed petition to withdraw the no-confidence motion to the Assembly secretary.

The petition stated that after the notification of Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman on December 22, Elahi ceased to be the chief minister, therefore, there is no need for further action on the no-confidence motion against him.

The no-confidence motion was to be presented in the House today in a meeting presided over by Speaker Punjab Assembly.

On December 19, the PPP and the PML-N – two major parties in the alliance, filed a no-confidence motion against the Punjab chief minister to delay the assembly’s dissolution.

Read LHC allows suspended PML-N lawmakers to attend PA session

The same day, Governor Rehman directed Chief Minister Elahi to seek a vote of confidence on December 21.

However, Speaker Sibtain Khan said that the governor’s letter, asking the chief minister to seek a vote of confidence was against the assembly rules, as well as the Constitution.

The province descended into further turmoil as Governor Rehman rejected the ruling of Speaker Sibtain.

In the latest development, in the wee hours of Friday, Rehman de-notified CM Elahi for failing to take a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly on Wednesday, December 21, on his order.

A notification issued by the Governor House after midnight had said that Chief Minister Elahi ceased to hold office immediately while the provincial cabinet stood dissolved.

However, it added that Elahi will continue under Article 133 of the Constitution until a new chief minister was elected by the provincial assembly.

Following the order de-notification order, Elahi filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging the governor’s order.