Governor of Punjab, Pakistan

Appointed head of the province of Punjab, Pakistan

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Governor of Punjab, Pakistan" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Governor of Punjab

Incumbent
Sardar Saleem Haider Khan

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
Formation| 15 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.

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Governors of West Punjab

[edit]

No. | Name  | Portrait  | Term in office  | Party

|
|
|
|

From  | To  | Days in office
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  | Muslism League |
3 | I. I. Chundrigar |

| 24 November
1951  | 2 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  | Muslism League |
6 | Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani |

| 26 November
1954  | 14 October
1955  | 322 days

### Governors of West Pakistan

[edit]

No.[1][a] | Name  | Portrait  | Term in office  | Form of Government  | Party

|
|
|
|
|

From  | To  | Days in office
(6) | Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani |

| 14 October
1955  | 27 August
1957  | 1 year, 317 days  | Democratic government | Muslim League |
7 | Akhter Husain |  | September
1957  | 12 April
1960  |  | Military government | Independent |
8 | Amir Mohammad Khan |  | 12 April
1960  | 18 September
1966  | 6 years, 159 days  | Military government / Civilian authority  | Muslim League |
9 | General (retd.)
Muhammad Musa |

| 18 September
1966  | 20 March
1969  | 2 years, 183 days  | Civilian Authority  | Independent |
10 | Yusuf Haroon |  | 20 March
1969  | 25 March
1969  | 5 days  | Civilian Authority  | Civilian Government |

### Martial Law Administrator

[edit]

No. | Name  | Portrait  | Term as Martial Law Administrator  | Form of Government  | Service in effect

|
|
|
|
|

From  | To  | Term
11 | Lieutenant-General
Attiqur Rahman |  | 25 March
1969  | 29 August
1969  | 157 days  | Military Government | Pakistan Army
12 | Lieutenant-General
Tikka Khan |

| 29 August
1969  | 1 September
1969  | 3 days  | Military Government | Pakistan Army
13 | Air Marshal
Nur Khan |  | 1 September
1969  | 1 February
1970  | 153 days  | Military Government | Pakistan Air Force
14 | Lieutenant-General
Attiqur Rahman |  | 1 February
1970  | 1 July
1970  | 150 days  | Military Government | Pakistan Army

## Punjab Province

[edit]

No.[a] | Name  | Portrait  | Term of office  | Party

|
|
|
|

From  | To  | Days in office
(14) | Lieutenant-General
Attiqur Rahman |  | 1 July
1970  | 23 December
1971  | 1 year, 175 days  | \-
15 | Ghulam Mustafa Khar |  | 23 December
1971  | 12 November
1973  | 1 year, 324 days  | Pakistan People's Party |
16 | Sadiq Hussain Qureshi |  | 12 November
1973  | 14 March
1975  | 1 year, 122 days
(15) | Ghulam Mustafa Khar |  | 14 March
1975  | 31 July
1975  | 139 days
17 | Mohammad Abbas Abbasi |

| 31 July
1975  | 5 July
1977  | 1 year, 339 days
18 | Aslam Riaz Hussain |  | 5 July
1977  | 18 September
1978  | 1 year, 75 days  | \-  |
19 | Lieutenant-General
Sawar Khan |  | 18 September
1978  | 1 May
1980  | 1 year, 226 days  | \-  |
20 | Lieutenant-General
Ghulam Jilani Khan |  | 1 May
1980  | 30 December
1985  | 5 years, 243 days  | \-  |
21 | Sajjad Hussain Qureshi |  | 30 December
1985  | 9 December
1988  | 2 years, 345 days  | \-  |
(12) | Tikka Khan |

| 9 December
1988  | 06 August
1990  | 1 year, 240 days  | Pakistan People's Party |
22 | Mian Muhammad Azhar |  | 6 August
1990  | 25 April
1993  | 2 years, 262 days  | Pakistan Muslim League |
23 | Chaudhary Altaf Hussain |  | 25 April
1993  | 19 July
1993  | 85 days  | Pakistan People's Party |
24 | Iqbal Khan |

| 19 July
1993  | 26 March
1994  | 250 days
(23) | Chaudhary Altaf Hussain |  | 26 March
1994  | 22 May
1995  | 1 year, 57 days
25 | Raja Saroop Khan |  | 19 June
1995  | 6 November
1996  | 1 year, 140 days
26 | Khawaja Tariq Rahim |  | 11 November
1996  | 11 March
1997  | 120 days  | \-
27 | Shahid Hamid |  | 11 March
1997  | 18 August
1999  | 2 years, 160 days  | Pakistan Muslim League (N) |
28 | Zulfiqar Ali Khosa |  | 12 August
1999  | 25 October
1999  | 74 days
29 | Muhammad Safdar |  | 25 October
1999  | 29 October
2001  | 2 years, 4 days  | \-  |
30 | Khalid Maqbool |  | 29 October
2001  | 16 May
2008  | 6 years, 200 days  | \-  |
31 | Salmaan Taseer*  |

| 17 May
2008  | 4 January
2011  | 2 years, 232 days  | Pakistan People's Party |
32 | Latif Khosa |

| 13 January
2011  | 2 January
2013  | 1 year, 355 days
33 | Syed Ahmed Mahmud |  | 3 January
2013  | 13 May
2013  | 130 days
34 | Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar |

| 2 August
2013  | 29 January
2015  | 1 year, 180 days  | Pakistan Muslim League (N) |
35 | Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana |

| 7 May
2015  | 18 August
2018  | 3 years, 103 days
(34) | Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar |

| 5 September
2018  | 3 April
2022  | 3 years, 180 days  | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf |
35 | Omar Sarfraz Cheema |

| 3 April
2022  | 10 May
2022  | 37 days
36 | Baligh Ur Rehman |  | 30 May
2022  | 10 May
2024  | 1 year, 346 days  | Pakistan Muslim League (N) |
37 | Sardar Saleem Haider Khan |  | 10 May 2024  | Incumbent | 1 year, 94 days  | Pakistan People's Party |

## See also

[edit]

* Chief Minister of Punjab
* Senior Minister of Punjab (Pakistan)
* Leader of the Opposition Punjab
* Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab
* Government of Punjab
* Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
* List of current Pakistani governors
* List of current Pakistani chief ministers

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b A number in parentheses indicates that the incumbent has previously held office.

## References

[edit]

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

* v
* t
* e

Governors of Punjab, Pakistan

Governors|

* Mudie
* Nishtar
* Chundrigar
* Aminuddin
* Rahimtoola
* Gurmani
* Rahman
* Khar
* Ramay
* Qureshi
* Khar
* Abbasi
* Hussain
* Khan
* Jilani
* Qureshi
* Khan
* Azhar
* Chaudhry
* Khan
* Rahim
* Hamid
* Khosa
* Safdar
* Maqbool
* Taseer
* Khosa
* Makhdoom
* Sarwar
* Rajwana
* Sarwar
* Cheema
* Baligh

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template