In a major political development, the Punjab Assembly removed four opposition standing committee chairpersons through a successful no-confidence motion. All four belonged to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). This move has further intensified the political divide in the provincial legislature.
The four chairpersons removed were Ansar Iqbal from the Literacy Committee, Saima Kanwal from Special Education, Ahsan Ali from Colonies, and Rai Murtaza from the Management and Professional Development Committee. According to sources, official notices for their removal have already been issued. The Assembly will now hold fresh elections to appoint their replacements.
Moreover, the Assembly is not stopping at these four committees. No-confidence motions have also been submitted against two more committee chairpersons. There is a strong chance that similar motions will target the remaining seven opposition-led committees. This indicates a broad strategy to weaken the PTI’s influence.
Meanwhile, tensions between the government and opposition are rising. Recently, 26 opposition members were suspended from the Assembly. Their authority to request Assembly sessions was also revoked. These actions show the ruling party’s aggressive stance against PTI lawmakers.
Lastly, sources revealed that the government may soon send legal references against opposition members to the Election Commission. This could lead to further political and legal action before the next session. The ongoing moves signal a significant shift in Assembly power dynamics.