PM refuses to remove Punjab CM

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived here Sunday on a day long visit to meet the provincial leadership and discuss the matters pertaining to politics and development. Soon after arriving here, the prime minister met Chief Minister Punjab, Sardar Usman Buzdar. During the meeting, they discussed the overall situation of the province, welfare of the people and development projects.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has refused to remove Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, saying he knew who the conspirator behind the CM Punjab sources disclosed. The sources added that while addressing a meeting of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) members of the provincial assembly (MPAs), 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 claimed.

He 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, emphasizing 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. It is pertinent to mention here that the CM controversy has brought discord not only among the coalition parties but in the ruling one as well.

Sources also disclosed that Chaudhry also accused the Punjab government of not disbursing the finance commission award to the districts. In response to the accusations, the PM directed the provincial government to release the award, the sources had added.