Governor of Punjab, Pakistan

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Governor of Punjab
Coat of arms of Punjab.svg
Flag of Punjab.svg
since 10 May 2024
Style The Honorable (formal)
Residence Governor's House
Seat Lahore
Nominator Prime Minister of Pakistan
Appointer President of Pakistan
Term length 5 years
Constituting instrument Constitution of Pakistan
Formation15 August 1947
First holder Sir Francis Mudie
Website governorhouse.punjab.gov.pk

The Governor of Punjab is the appointed head of state of the provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan. Although the Governor is the head of the province on paper, it is largely a ceremonial position; and the main powers lie with the elected Chief Minister of Punjab and the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the senior-most bureaucrat in the province.

Contents

However, throughout the history of Pakistan, the powers of the provincial governors were vastly increased, when the provincial assemblies were dissolved and the administrative role came under direct control of the governors, as in the cases of martial laws of 1958–1972 and 1977–1985, and governor rules of 1999–2002. In the case of Punjab, there was direct governor rule in 1949–1951, when the provincial chief minister of that time was removed and assemblies dissolved.

Powers of Governor

Executive Powers related to appointment, removal , oath taking etc.

Legislative powers related to provincial assembly of Punjab.

Judicial powers related to Lahore High Court or judiciary.

Executive Powers

Governor is ceremonial and appointed head of Province. He is appointed by President on advice of Prime Minister of Pakistan. All executive powers are exercised by Chief Minister and cabinet on his behalf. He is bound to act on the advice of the Chief Minister and cabinet. He serves until removed by the President on the advice of Prime Minister.

Governor is chancellor of public sector universities in Punjab. As chancellor , he appoints Vice Chancellors of public sector universities. He can take action against employees of universities for any unlawful acts.

He appoints provincial ministers on advice of Chief Minister amongst members of provincial assembly of Punjab.

He appoints care taker chief minister after consultation with Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition.

He appoints care-taker cabinet on advice of care-taker chief minister.

This is constitutional obligation of provincial government to kept him inform on all matters of provincial administration and legislative proposals bring before provincial assembly.

He has constitutional authority to invite chief minister to obtain vote of confidence from majiority members of provincial assembly. If he fails he can remove him from post of chief minister. He can exercise this power only when he is satisfied that chief minister has lost confidence of members of provincial assembly.

He appoints Advocate General of Punjab on advice of Chief Minister.

He appoints chairman of Punjab Public Service Commission on advice of Chief Minister.

He can exercise executive powers directly without advice of the chief minister but during governor rule. Governor rule is imposed by President on advice of Prime Minister in emergency situations i.e. financial emergency, constitutional breakdown and when there is threat of war and external aggression.

He take oath from elected and care taker chief minister and members of cabinet

Legislative Powers

All bills passed by provincial assembly of Punjab becomes acts only when assented by Governor or deemed to be assented after passage of certain time according to constitution.

Governor can refuse to sign the bills if he thinks that there is any issue or a bill is not according to constitutional provisions. If the bill is again passed by the provincial assembly with or without amendment, the governor is bound to assent the bill. If he again refuses to sign the bill, it automatically becomes act after passage of certain time, according to the constitution.

The governor can dissolve provincial assembly on advice of chief minister. He can refuse to dissolve the assembly but after 48 hours assembly will be automatically dissolved.

He can also dissolve the provincial assembly in his discretion when no confidence motion against chief minister is successfully passed and no other member of provincial assembly is able to elected as chief minister.

Finance Act which is also passed by provincial assembly is assented by Governor. He can not refuse to sign it because it is money bill.

He has constitutional authority to announce date of general election after dissolution of provincial assembly not later than 90 days.

He can promulgate ordinances when he is satisfies that assembly is not in session on advice of Chief Minister and cabinet.

The reports of auditor general shall be submitted to the governor who shall cause them to be laid to provincial assembly.

Judicial Powers

Chief Justice of Lahore High Court take oath before Governor.

Lahore High Court may have Benches at such other places determined by Governor on advice of cabinet and in consultation with chief justice of Lahore High Court.

The Governor in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court to make rules to provide the following matters, that is to

say,—

(a) assigning the area in relation to which each Bench shall have

exercise jurisdiction vested in the High Court; and

(b) for all incidental, supplemental or consequential matters.

List of governors

No.NamePortraitTerm of officeParty Background
West Punjab
1 Sir Francis Mudie 15 August
1947
2 August
1949
1 year, 352 days
2 Abdur Rab Nishtar 2 August
1949
24 November
1951
4 years, 114 days
3 I. I. Chundrigar Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar.jpg 24 November
1951
May
1953
1 year, 182 days
4 Mian Aminuddin 2 May
1953
24 June
1954
1 year, 53 days
5 Habib Rahimtoola 24 June
1954
26 November
1954
155 days
6 Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani.jpg 26 November
1954
14 October
1955
322 days

Governors of West Pakistan

NGovernor of West Pakistan [1] PortraitTenureParty BackgroundForm of Government
- Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani 14 October 1955 – 27 August 1957 Muslim League Democratic government
7 Akhter Husain September 1957 – 12 April 1960 Independent Military government
8 Amir Mohammad Khan 12 April 1960 – 18 September 1966 Muslim League Military government / Civilian authority
9General (retired) Muhammad Musa 18 September 1966 – 20 March 1969 Independent Civilian Authority
10 Yusuf Haroon 20 March 1969 – 25 March 1969 Civilian Government Civilian Authority
NMartial Law AdministratorTenure TermType of GovernmentService in effect
11 Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman (first term)25 March 1969 – 29 August 1969 Military Government Pakistan Army
12Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan 29 August 1969 – 1 September 1969 Military Government Pakistan Army
13 Air Marshal Nur Khan 1 September 1969 – 1 February 1970 Military Government Pakistan Air Force
14Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman (second term)1 February 1970 – 1 July 1970 Military Government Pakistan Army

Punjab Province

No.NamePortraitTerm of officeDurationParty Background
15 Attiqur Rahman 1 July
1970
23 December
1971
540 Days

(1 year, 5 months, 3 days)

16 Ghulam Mustafa Khar 23 December
1971
12 November
1973
690 days

(1 year, 10 months, 20 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
17 Sadiq Hussain Qureshi 12 November
1973
14 March
1975
487 days

(1 year, 4 months, 2 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
18 Ghulam Mustafa Khar 14 March
1975
31 July
1975
139 days

(4 months, 17 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
19 Mohammad Abbas Abbasi Nawab Mohammad Abbas Abbasi.jpg 31 July
1975
5 July
1977
705 days

(1 year, 11 months, 5 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
20 Aslam Riaz Hussain 5 July
1977
18 September
1978
440 days

(1 year, 2 months, 13 days)

21 Sawar Khan 18 September
1978
1 May
1980
591 days

(1 year, 7 months, 13 days)

22 Ghulam Jilani Khan 1 May
1980
30 December
1985
2069 days

(5 years, 7 months, 29 days)

23 Sajjad Hussain Qureshi 30 December
1985
9 December
1988
1075 days

(2 years, 11 months, 9 days)

24 Tikka Khan 9 December
1988
06 August
1990
605 days

(1 year, 7 months, 28 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
25 Mian Muhammad Azhar 6 August
1990
25 April
1993
993 days

(2 years, 8 months, 19 days)

Pakistan Muslim League
26 Chaudhary Altaf Hussain 25 April
1993
19 July
1993
85 days

(2 months, 24 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
27 Iqbal Khan 19 July
1993
26 March
1994
250 days

(8 months, 7 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
28 Chaudhary Altaf Hussain 26 March
1994
22 May
1995
422 days

(1 year, 1 month, 26 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
29 Raja Saroop Khan 19 June
1995
6 November
1996
506 days

1 year, 4 months, 18 days

Pakistan Peoples Party
30 Khawaja Tariq Rahim 11 November
1996
11 March
1997
120 days

4 months

31 Shahid Hamid 11 March
1997
18 August
1999
890 days

(2 years, 5 months, 7 days)

Pakistan Muslim League (N)
32 Zulfiqar Ali Khosa 12 August
1999
25 October
1999
73 days Pakistan Muslim League (N)
33 Muhammad Safdar 25 October
1999
29 October
2001
796 days

(2 years, 2 months, 4 days)

34 Khalid Maqbool 29 October
2001
16 May
2008
2391 days

(6 years, 6 months, 17 days)

35 Salmaan Taseer* Salmaan Taseer October 29, 2009 Lahore.jpg 17 May
2008
4 January
2011
962 days

(2 years, 7 months, 18 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
36 Latif Khosa Latifkhosa.jpg 13 January
2011
2 January
2013
720 days

(1 year, 11 months, 20 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
37 Syed Ahmed Mahmud 3 January
2013
13 May
2013
131 days

(4 months, 11 days)

Pakistan Peoples Party
38 Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar MohdSarwar.JPG 2 August
2013
29 January
2015
545 days

(1 year, 5 months, 27 days)

Pakistan Muslim League (N)
39 Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana
Malik Rafique Rajwana at an Agricultural Partnership at Expo in Lahore (41151147234) (cropped).jpg
7 May
2015
18 August
2018
1199 days

(3 years, 3 months, 11 days)

Pakistan Muslim League (N)
40 Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar MohdSarwar.JPG 5 September
2018
3 April
2022
1306 days

(3 years, 6 months, 29 days)

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
41 Omar Sarfraz Cheema
Omar Sarfaraz Cheema.jpg
3 April
2022
10 May
2022
57 days

(1 month, 27 days)

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
42 Baligh Ur Rehman
Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman (cropped).jpg
30 May
2022
10 May 2024710 days (1 year, 11 months, 10 days) Pakistan Muslim League (N)
43 Sardar Saleem Haider Khan 10 May 2024Incumbent Pakistan People's Party

See also

References

  1. Ben Cahoon, WorldStatesmen.org. "Pakistan Provinces" . Retrieved 3 October 2007.