Shahbaz Gill resigns as Punjab CM’s spokesperson

Published September 13, 2019
Dr Shahbaz Gill resigned as the Punjab chief minister's spokesperson on Friday. — DawnNewsTV
Dr Shahbaz Gill resigned as the Punjab chief minister's spokesperson on Friday. — DawnNewsTV

In a sudden turn of events, Dr Shahbaz Gill on Friday tendered his resignation as the spokesperson for Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

“I hereby resign from the post of official spokesperson to CM Punjab,” Gill stated in a note of resignation addressed to the chief minister, a copy of which is available with DawnNewsTV.

The news comes after Gill tweeted on Friday afternoon that he had taken an "important decision" in the morning today. "Will share with you soon," he wrote.

The name of the person who will replace him has not been announced as yet.

Among other changes in the Punjab cabinet announced today, Awn Chaudhry was removed as an adviser to the Punjab chief minister.

"Chief Minister is pleased to appoint Mr Asif Mehmood as Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab in place of Mr Muhammad Awn Chaudhry with immediate effect," a notification issued by Buzdar's office said.

Mehmood shall act as Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on "Affairs related to Punjab Horticulture Authorities (PHAs) and Tourism", it added.

Separately, Chief Minister Buzdar in a communiqué to the Punjab acting governor advised him to appoint Malik Asad Ali, a member of Punjab Assembly, as a provincial minister.

“In pursuance of Article 132 (1), read with Article 105 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Governor of Punjab is hereby advised to appoint Malik Asad Ali, member of Provincial Assembly of Punjab (PP-168) [...] as provincial minister,” the letter read.

It wasn't immediately announced what ministry Ali will hold.

Later in the day, the MPA was administered the oath of the office of provincial minister by Punjab Acting Governor Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. With his appointment, the number of ministers in the Punjab cabinet has risen to 36.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.