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Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi received a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly, Speaker Sibtain Khan said.
“I congratulate Chaudhry Parvez Elahi for getting the vote of confidence,” he said.
Government legislators Aslam Iqbal and Raja Basharat presented a resolution for a vote of confidence.
The opposition cried foul and boycotted the midnight session. The opposition member broke the lock of the gallery gate and walked out of the assembly. The speaker added that the counting of votes has been completed and 186 votes were cast in favor of the CM
Security around the assembly was stepped up.
Opposition and government lawmakers clashed during the midnight meeting.
Outside the Punjab Assembly, Home Minister Rana Sanaullah called the proceedings “against the rules and the constitution” and accused the speaker of “bulldozing” the trust vote.
Earlier, during the meeting, PPP MPA Syed Usman Mehmood said that the “minority government” was asked to take a vote of confidence and a question period could also be held.
PML-N lawmaker Raheela Khadim Hussain refused to speak during the question-and-answer session and instead requested that the vote of confidence be taken first.
The PA speaker said the government would take a vote of confidence, but first the Lahore High Court should be allowed to take the final decision on the matter tomorrow.
He said the government could not remain in power if it did not pass a confidence vote and asked the opposition to come up with a motion of no confidence to resolve the matter.
Sardar Shahabuddin Khan lashed out at the opposition for causing ruckus and said it had nothing to do with the assembly process. The PA speaker agreed and said the lawmakers who do not allow assembly operations to continue should be suspended.
As the opposition lawmakers shouted slogans and came face to face with government MPAs, the PA speaker urged them to return to their seats, warning them of action against them.
Raja Basharat raised the demand to remove federal minister Rana Sanaullah from the press gallery, saying plots are being made in the gallery.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry claimed that the ruling coalition’s tally of 187 lawmakers was complete, but Rana Sanaullah said Elahi did not have the support of 186 lawmakers.
Alhamdulillah number of 187 complete
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) 11 January 2023
Meanwhile, Imran Khan praised his allies for baking CM Elahi. The PTI accused the opposition coalition of horse-trading but welcomed and praised independent MPA Bilal Warraich for joining the ruling coalition.