Pakistan premier picks new chief minister for key province to woo allies

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday nominated the head of his allied party as the new chief minister of key Punjab province, in an attempt to bag five crucial votes against the opposition’s no-trust motion which could de-seat him.

Information Minister Farrukh Habib confirmed that Usman Buzdar, the chief minister of Punjab, has tendered his resignation, and announced that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will support Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for the coveted post.

The development came minutes after the opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against Khan in the lower house – the National Assembly.

In return, Elahi, who served as the chief minister from 2002 to 2007, announced his Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam (PML-Q) party’s support for Khan in voting on the no-trust motion.

Apparently displeased over the development, Tariq Bashir Cheema, the PML-Q’s secretary-general and federal minister for housing, resigned from his office, saying he would issue a “detailed statement” regarding his move “soon.”

Khan’s dramatic move has apparently turned the tide in his favor. However, some analysts believe that getting elected as the chief minister itself will be a “Herculean” task for Elahi as he is facing a rebellion from within his own party. Several ruling party lawmakers also oppose him.

Unfazed by Khan’s move, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chairman of key opposition Pakistan People’s Party, told reporters that the opposition has mustered up “enough support” to oust the prime minister through the no-confidence motion.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), another key government ally, which also has five seats in the National Assembly, announced its support for the no-confidence motion in a press conference. Zubaida Jalal, one of the five BAP parliamentarians, was not present at the press conference.

Earlier in the day, the opposition alliance in Punjab also submitted a no-confidence motion against Buzdar.

As many as 127 lawmakers, including those from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People’s Party, signed the motion before submitting it to the office of the speaker.