Constitutional crisis in Punjab, Pakistan (2022)
The constitutional crisis in Pakistan's Punjab province began on 28 March 2022, when Usman Buzdar tendered his resignation as Chief Minister at the request of Prime Minister Imran Khan and nominated former Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to replace him. On 1 April 2022, his resignation was accepted by then Governor of Punjab, Chaudary Mohammed Sarwar. The resignation of Usman Buzdar became necessary after it became clear that Buzdar no longer enjoyed the support of the provincial assembly. Although Imran Khan initially resisted the idea of Buzdar being removed, he eventually negotiated a deal with Elahi's PML(Q), in which Elahi's party would support Imran Khan in the no confidence motion which was tabled in the National Assembly in return for Elahi being nominated as Chief Minister by PTI. However, A group of 25 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPAs defected from their party and decided to support opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif for the post of Chief Minister instead. April CM election 2 April – After the resignation of Buzdar, the meeting of the Punjab Assembly was convened on 2 April 2022 to elect a new Chief Minister. Meanwhile Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Secretary of the Provincial Assembly said that the candidates would submit their nomination papers today while voting for the election of a new Chief Minister is likely to take place tomorrow or Monday. 3 April – The session of Punjab Assembly which started late and last only for 6 minutes under the chairmanship of then Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari, was adjourned till April 6 as the Deputy Speaker attributed the adjournment to commotion. No election for CM is held. 5 April – Deputy Speaker Mazari issued a statement to convene the meeting on 16 April. And then late at night the date of the meeting was changed again to 6 April. 6 April – The Secretary of the Assembly said that the notification of the meeting is dated 16 April and it will be considered. He further said that the meeting was never convened on plain paper, a gazette notification has to be issued to convene the meeting.In the symbolic session of the Punjab Assembly, and in protest of the delay, 199 members passed a resolution to elect Hamza Shahbaz as the Chief Minister. After the doors of the Punjab Assembly were closed, the opposition convened a symbolic meeting at a local hotel. Jahangir Tareen and Abdul Aleem Khan Group members attended. No-confidence motions against Speaker and Deputy speaker 6 April – PML-N files a no-confidence motion against Speaker Elahi, PTI leaders file a counter-motion of no confidence against Deputy Speaker Mazari. The date for the CM election is delayed to 16 April. After an appeal by PML-N because of the delay, Lahore High Court rules that the election must go ahead on 16 April. Riots and brawl 16 April - Opposition candidate Hamza Shahbaz was elected the new Chief Minister with 197 votes, 25 of which were from PTI members voting against party directions. Riots and violence ensued