Governor Punjab has taken a very illegal step by issuing an ordinance: Ch Parvez Elahi

The Punjab Assembly is a constitutional institution. Weakening it, is tantamount to weakening the constitution and democracy: Omar Sarfraz Cheema

There is no constitutional or legal status to convene a session in a place other than the Assembly, as there is no election status in the visitor’s gallery. There is no option to cancel the requested meeting

Lahore: 19-06-2022: Former Governor Punjab Omar Sarfraz Cheema called on Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Parvez Elahi at his residence here. On this occasion, the current political situation in the country, including the constitutional crisis in Punjab was discussed.

Speaker Punjab Assembly Ch Parvez Elahi and former Governor Punjab Omar Sarfraz Cheema said that the Assembly is a constitutional body which has the status of an institution and weakening it, is tantamount to weakening the constitution and democracy. Governor Punjab has taken a very illegal step by issuing an ordinance. Unconstitutional session outside the assembly has been convened without the Secretary Punjab Assembly and Assembly staff. The Deputy Speaker has no authority to convene a session in the presence of Speaker. Those who used the slogan of honoring the vote harmed the Punjab Assembly, the largest democratic institution. An attempt was made by the Governor to deprive the Punjab Assembly of its powers.

He said that the session convened at a place other than the assembly had no constitutional and legal status, as the election had no status in the visitor’s gallery. According to the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, only the Speaker can prorogue the session convened by the Speaker. No one else has the power to prorogue the session called by the Speaker. Orders to summon and prorogue have to be made by the Secretary Punjab Assembly.

Former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema said that with reference to the deprivation of powers of the Assembly and the Speaker by the Governor, the Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution under Rule (a) of Article 128 of the Constitution of Pakistan, after which the said ordinance Punjab Laws (Repealing and Removal of Difficulties) Ordinance2022 (of 2022X) has been repealed. After the repeal of the ordinance, the Assembly has been restored to its independent status. #