The governor of Punjab (Punjabi/Urdu: گورنر پنجاب, romanized: Gavarnar Panjāb) is the head of province of the Pakistani province of Punjab. Appointed by the federal government through the president of Pakistan, the governor serves a nominal and ceremonial role as head of province and executive, with real executive authority exercised by the elected chief minister and their appointed cabinet; and administrative authority by the chief secretary, the senior-most bureaucrat in the province, who reports to the chief minister.
| Governor of Punjab | |
|---|---|
| گورنر پنجاب Gavarnar Panjāb | |
 | |
 | |
| Executive branch of the Government of Punjab | |
| Style | The Honorable (formal) |
| Type | Head of province |
| Status | |
| Reports to | President of Pakistan |
| Residence | Governor's House |
| Seat | Lahore |
| Nominator | Prime Minister of Pakistan |
| Appointer | President of Pakistan |
| Term length |
|
| Constituting instrument | Article 101, Constitution of Pakistan |
| Precursor | Governor of British Punjab |
| Inaugural holder | Sir Francis Mudie |
| Formation | 15 August 1947 |
| Website | governorhouse |
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
editExecutive 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
editGovernor 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
editAll 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
editChief 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 of Punjab
editFollowing is a list of the governors of Punjab since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947.[1]
Muslim League Pakistan Peoples Party Islami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan Muslim League (N) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Independent, civil or military administration Office abolished
| Tenure no. |
Governor | Political affiliation | Term of office | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| 1 | Sir Francis Mudie | Independent | August 15, 1947 | August 2, 1949 | 1 year, 352 days | ||
| 2 |  |
Abdur Rab Nishtar | Muslim League | August 2, 1949 | November 24, 1951 | 2 years, 114 days | |
| 3 |  |
I. I. Chundrigar | Muslim League | November 24, 1951 | May 2, 1953 | 1 year, 159 days | |
| 4 | Mian Aminuddin | Independent | May 2, 1953 | June 24, 1954 | 1 year, 53 days | ||
| 5 | Habib Rahimtoola | Muslim League | June 24, 1954 | November 26, 1954 | 155 days | ||
| 6 |  |
Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani | Muslim League | November 26, 1954 | October 14, 1955 | 322 days | |
| – | Office abolished Punjab became part of the province of West Pakistan |
October 14, 1955 | June 30, 1970 | 14 years, 259 days | |||
| 7 | Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman | Military administration (Pakistan Army) |
July 1, 1970 | December 23, 1971 | 1 year, 175 days | ||
| 8 | Ghulam Mustafa Khar (first tenure) |
PPP | December 23, 1971 | November 12, 1973 | 1 year, 324 days | ||
| 9 | Sadiq Hussain Qureshi | PPP | November 12, 1973 | March 14, 1975 | 1 year, 122 days | ||
| 10 | Ghulam Mustafa Khar (second tenure) |
PPP | March 14, 1975 | July 31, 1975 | 139 days | ||
| 11 |  |
Mohammad Abbas Abbasi | PPP | July 31, 1975 | July 5, 1977 | 1 year, 339 days | |
| 12 | Aslam Riaz Hussain | Civil administration | July 5, 1977 | September 18, 1978 | 1 year, 75 days | ||
| 13 | Lieutenant-General Sawar Khan | Military administration (Pakistan Army) |
September 18, 1978 | May 1, 1980 | 1 year, 226 days | ||
| 14 | Lieutenant-General Ghulam Jilani Khan | Military administration (Pakistan Army) |
May 1, 1980 | December 30, 1985 | 5 years, 243 days | ||
| 15 | Sajjad Hussain Qureshi | Independent | December 30, 1985 | December 9, 1988 | 2 years, 345 days | ||
| 16 |  |
General Tikka Khan | PPP | December 9, 1988 | August 6, 1990 | 1 year, 240 days | |
| 17 | Mian Muhammad Azhar | IJI | August 6, 1990 | April 25, 1993 | 2 years, 262 days | ||
| 18 | Chaudhary Altaf Hussain (first tenure) |
PPP | April 25, 1993 | July 19, 1993 | 85 days | ||
| 19 |  |
General Iqbal Khan | Independent | July 19, 1993 | March 26, 1994 | 250 days | |
| 20 | Chaudhary Altaf Hussain (second tenure) |
PPP | March 26, 1994 | May 22, 1995 | 1 year, 57 days | ||
| 21 | Raja Saroop Khan | Independent | June 19, 1995 | November 6, 1996 | 1 year, 140 days | ||
| 22 | Khawaja Tariq Rahim | PPP | November 11, 1996 | March 11, 1997 | 120 days | ||
| 23 | Shahid Hamid | PML(N) | March 11, 1997 | August 18, 1999 | 2 years, 160 days | ||
| 24 | Zulfiqar Ali Khosa | PML(N) | August 18, 1999 | October 12, 1999 | 55 days | ||
| 25 | Lieutenant-General Muhammad Safdar | Military administration (Pakistan Army) |
October 25, 1999 | October 29, 2001 | 2 years, 4 days | ||
| 26 | Lieutenant-General Khalid Maqbool | Military administration (Pakistan Army) |
October 29, 2001 | May 16, 2008 | 6 years, 200 days | ||
| 27 |  |
Salmaan Taseer | PPP | May 17, 2008 | January 4, 2011 | 2 years, 232 days | |
| 28 |  |
Latif Khosa | PPP | January 13, 2011 | January 2, 2013 | 1 year, 355 days | |
| 29 | Syed Ahmed Mahmud | PPP | January 3, 2013 | May 13, 2013 | 130 days | ||
| 30 |  |
Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar (first tenure) |
PML(N) | August 2, 2013 | January 29, 2015 | 1 year, 180 days | |
| 31 | _(cropped).jpg) |
Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana | PML(N) | May 10, 2015 | August 18, 2018 | 3 years, 100 days | |
| 32 | |
Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar (second tenure) |
PTI | September 5, 2018 | April 3, 2022 | 3 years, 210 days | |
| 33 |  |
Omar Sarfraz Cheema | PTI | April 3, 2022 | May 10, 2022 | 37 days | |
| 34 | .jpg) |
Baligh Ur Rehman | PML(N) | May 30, 2022 | May 10, 2024 | 1 year, 346 days | |
| 35 | Sardar Saleem Haider Khan | PPP | May 10, 2024 | Incumbent | 2 years, 102 days[2] | ||
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Our Governors". Punjab Portal. Government of the Punjab. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Governor". Governor's House Lahore. Government of the Punjab. Retrieved 12 July 2026.