Amid tight security and unprecedented delay, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Saturday finally administered oath to the newly-elected Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz.
Meanwhile, in a dramatic turn of events, Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema restored Usman Buzdar’s previously defunct cabinet citing constitutional objections.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor House.
As Hamza was being sworn in, Punjab Governor urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of what he called “thuggery” at Governor House. He asserted that the move was unconstitutional and CJP should declare it void ab initio.
Amid concerns of protests and rioting, the Punjab Police heightened security in Lahore and sealed roads leading to the Governor House. Heavy contingents of police were deployed to cope with any untoward situation.
The Lahore High Court on Friday had directed the National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf to administer the oath to Hamza Shehbaz Sharif by 11:30am on Saturday.