LAHORE: Former Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said that not only the establishment but also all 38 federal ministers of former prime minister Imran Khan’s (federal) cabinet wanted to remove Usman Buzdar as the chief minister.
In an exclusive interview with Wenews, Chaudhry Sarwar said that the establishment believed that Usman Buzdar’s performance was not good, so he should be removed.
He said that the establishment did not want Aleem Khan to be made the chief minister and wanted someone else to be made the chief minister, but Imran Khan disagreed.
“All the ministers in the 38-member (federal) cabinet pushed for removing Usman Buzdar, but Imran Khan disagreed. The ministers in the PTI government at that time should sit with me and put their hands on their hearts and swear that they did not want Usman Buzdar to be removed from the chief ministership,” he said.
The former Punjab governor also admitted that most of the party’s decisions were taken by Imran Khan himself rather than by Bushra Bibi and Farah Gogi.
‘Corruption was rampant in Buzdar government’
Talking to Wenews, Chaudhry Sarwar further said that the “commission rate” on transfers and postings in the Usman Buzdar’s government had increased to 55 per cent.
“When I came to Pakistan, the commission was 10 per cent and every three months, deputy commissioners, secretaries and superintendents of police used to get shuffled. I told Usman Buzdar that a perception is developing that work is being done in the province by taking bribes. I am not saying that Farah Gogi did not influence transfers and postings, but other people in the Buzdar government also made a lot of money. But Farah Gogi is an easy target, so the whole hell falls on her,” he said.
‘Left party after Pervaiz Elahi made chief minister’
Chaudhry Sarwar said that Pervaiz Elahi brought the no-confidence motion against Usman Buzdar. “I tried to convince Imran Khan that we have 184 members and you should pick any of them for the chief minister’s slot. I had also assured (Imran Khan) that Pervaiz Elahi had brought the no-confidence motion, but I guarantee that this movement (no-confidence motion) will not succeed. Imran Khan said that the people of Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan would not vote (for us), but I said that I would talk to them and they will also vote,” he said.
Chaudhry Sarwar said that Imran Khan should not have accepted the resignation of Usman Buzdar, as we had tolerated Usman Buzdar for three and a half years, and nothing would happen if we put up with him (Buzdar) a little more.
‘Invite everyone, including Jahangir Tareen, to join PML-Q’
Answering a question, Chaudhry Sarwar said: “I invite everyone who wants democracy in the country to join the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). I wish to form a democratic party where there is only democracy and every worker gets respect.”
“Many parties offered me good positions and I could have joind any party but some people suggested that it would be a wise decision to join the PML-Q,” he said adding that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has given him full powers and he will “lift up the party now.”
‘Have business all over the world and my sons also do businesses’
The former Punjab governor said, “My two sons are doing very good business. One of my sons is doing politics in Scotland and is also the Scottish Party’s leader. Insha Allah, my son will also become the chief minister of Scotland.
‘PDM failed to meet people’s expectations’
Chaudhry Sarwar said that “our party (PML-Q) currently has two ministers in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, but the fact is that the PDM could not meet the expectations of the people, due to which the PTI gained popularity among the masses.”
