Constitutional crisis in Punjab, Pakistan (2022)

Re-interpretation of Article 63A by the Supreme Court of the constitution to prevent party-switchers from voting against the party they were elected on De-seating of PTI MPAs that voted for Hamza Shehbaz Subsequent victory of PTI in the by-elections Imran Khan Hamza Shehbaz Sharif The constitutional crisis in Pakistan's Punjab province began on 28 March 2022, when Usman Buzdar tendered his resignation as Chief Minister at the request of Prime Minister Imran Khan and nominated former Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to replace him.

However, A group of 25 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPAs defected from their party and decided to support opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif for the post of Chief Minister instead.

[3] On 16 April, during a bitterly contested session of the Provincial Assembly, Hamza Shehbaz was elected as Chief Minister with the support of 197 MPAs, 25 of which belonged to PTI.

[18] This, however, violated Article 63-A of the Pakistani constitution, which explicitly states that if a MPA or MNA "votes contrary to any direction issued by the Parliamentary Party to which he belongs", they must be disqualified from office.

After litigation, the Lahore High Court ordered National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf to administer the oath instead.