- Says won’t remove Usman Buzdar
LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan has outright refused to remove Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, saying he knows who the conspirator behind the CM Punjab’s fiasco is, sources said.
The sources added that while addressing a meeting of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) on Sunday, PM Imran said Buzdar would remain the Punjab CM and he will not be removed at any cost.
The prime minister added that he knew who was creating the controversy to oust Buzdar and that the conspirator wanted the post for himself.
If the incumbent CM was removed, the new one, too, would be forced to step down in a similar manner, the prime minister warned. A new chief minister, if appointed, would not even last 20 days, he added.
The premier further added that there was negative propaganda that Buzdar did not have the required authority; however, the chief secretary and inspector-general (IG) of Punjab were new and would work as a part of the CM’s team, he added. Buzdar has complete authority, he added.
PM Imran also tasked the Punjab government to quickly hold municipal elections at a village-council level, emphasising that lower-level elections were the solution to the people’s problems.
With regard to inflation, the PM tasked the provincial government with the responsibility to tell the truth. The ongoing higher prices were due to the prior governments’ bad policies, he added.
The Punjab government should tell people how prior administrations economically ruined Pakistan.
The CM controversy has brought discord not only among the coalition parties but in the ruling one as well. Earlier this week, Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz ul Hasan Chohan had said he could “only lament” Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudry’s criticism of CM Buzdar’s governance.
Chohan had said Chaudhry was “keeping himself above discipline [in his] attitude and behaviour”, which was “very destructive to any party, institution, group or family”. Chaudhry “tries to be a hero” every month, he had added. “He’s my brother, my friend, and he’s very competent in some aspects but I believe that he has crossed a boundary in terms of violating [party] discipline.
“One should should think of the benefit of the boat one is in,” the provincial information minister said, adding that it was neither Chaudhry’s authority or prerogative to form an opinion on the chief minister that he should step down or should be retained.
Everyone, including PM Imran, the provincial Cabinet, and the MPAs from treasury benches “are on his side”, Chohan had said of Buzdar. To Chaudhry, however, he had stated: “I ask him, ‘Brother, what’s your problem?’-Agencies
