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Following a day of unrest and political stress that saw PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi lose his re-election bid, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman gave newly re-elected Chief Minister of Punjab Hamza Shahbaz the oath on Saturday.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by ministers, PML-N leaders, office holders, workers, members of the national and provincial assemblies, and top officials.

Soon after Hamza took the oath, shouts of "Aik Zardari Sab Pe Bhaari" (one Zardari weights more than all of them) could be heard.
a second triumph for Hamza

The PML-N retained the throne of Punjab on Friday following a remarkable victory against the PTI in the election for Punjab chief minister that few had predicted. This victory came after a nail-biting finale that had seemed as clear as day.

After Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari decided that PML-Q members" votes were not counted in light of party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain"s letter urging his MPAs to vote for PML-candidate, N"s Hamza Shehbaz was proclaimed the winner.

Mazari claims that Elahi won 176 votes while Hamza received 179 votes, although this was only true after 10 votes from Elahi"s own party were disregarded, which tipped the balance in Hamza"s favour.

The deputy speaker said that he had disregarded the votes of PML-Q legislators in accordance with the Supreme Court"s decision regarding Article 63-A"s defection clause.

Ironically, the ruling of the supreme court had provided the legal justification for calling for a second round of election for the chief minister"s position.

The run-off elections for the 20 seats that became empty after the disqualifying of PTI defectors who voted for Hamza were held five days after the by-elections, in compliance with the procedure outlined by the Supreme Court, in a newly formed House with a modified electoral college.