PML-N leader and former federal minister Balighur Rahman has been nominated as new governor of Punjab, reported 24NewsHD TV channel, quoting its sources.

The nomination was unveiled on Saturday as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has forwarded a summary to President Arif Alvi for the appointment of Balighur Rahman as the new Punjab Governor.

Balighur Rahman had earlier served as Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, in Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s cabinet from August 2017 to May 2018.

Previously he had served as the Minister of State for Federal Education and of Interior and Narcotics Control in third Nawaz Sharif government from 2013 to 2017. He had been a member of the National Assembly from 2008 to May 2018.

A few days ago on May 1, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had once again sent a summary to President Arif Alvi advising him to remove Punjab Governor Omer Sarfraz Cheema.  

According to the constitution, if the President does not remove the Governor on the second advice of the Prime Minister, then the Governor would cease to hold his office automatically after a lapse of 10 days. 

President Alvi had promptly removed former Punjab governor Ch Sarwar with the crack of the dawn at 4am on the same day when then prime minister Imran Khan had advised him to remove him.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had sent a summary to President Dr Alvi for the removal of Governor Cheema on April 15. But the President returned the summary after raising an objection.

PM Shehbaz had once again dispatched the summary to the Presidency for Cheema’s removal on May 1 and as per the law the governor will automatically be dismissed after the lapse of 10 days if the President chooses not to remove him.

Reporter Awais Kiyani