*Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi has rejected the Prime Minister’s adviceto remove Governor Punjab Umer Sarfaraz Cheema. *
A statement issued by the President read that “the Governor shall holdoffice during the pleasure of the President.” It referred to clause 3 ofArticle 101 of the Constitution of Pakistan. He wrote that the “incumbentgovernor cannot be removed as there was neither any allegation ofmisconduct nor conviction by any court of law or of any act committed byhim contrary to the Constitution of Pakistan.”
The President also highlighted the constitutional role of the Governor,especially regarding the happenings in the Punjab Assembly. The Governorhad questioned the validity of former CM Usman Bozdar’s resignation andselling of votes amid the CM elections.
The President stated that the removal of the Governor would be against thenorms of justice and unfair as he has not done anything contrary to theconstitution of Pakistan.
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Arif Alvi added “It was essential that the incumbent Governor shouldcontinue to stay to encourage and promote a healthy and clean democraticsystem where members are not coerced or bought to bring about anillegitimate change and Article 63A of the Constitution specificallydiscouraged such activities.”
The President added that he is committed to stand by the constitution ofPakistan and ‘strongly’ rejects the Prime Minister’s advise to removeGovernor Punjab.
