Omar Sarfraz Cheema (born 24 July 1969) is a Pakistani politician who has been a founding member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He served as the Governor of Punjab for a little over a month, from 3 April 2022 till 10 May 2022 amidst the 2022 Constitutional crisis in Punjab, Pakistan. On advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif he was removed as Governor and ceased to hold office on 10 May 2024.[1] Cheema was replaced by Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman on 30 May 2022, despite resistance from the President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi.[2] Alvi conceded and approved the replacement of Cheema.[3] He has been held in prison since 2023 in alleged relation to the May 9 riots and has been incarcerated while being denied proper facilities while imprisoned.[4][5]
Omar Sarfraz Cheema | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 42nd Governor of Punjab | |
| In office 3 April 2022 – 10 May 2022 | |
| President | Arif Alvi |
| Prime Minister | Imran Khan Shehbaz Sharif |
| Preceded by | Mohammad Sarwar |
| Succeeded by | Baligh Ur Rehman |
| Advisor the Chief Minister, Home and Prisons | |
| In office 13 October 2022 – 14 January 2023 | |
| Governor | Baligh Ur Rehman |
| Chief Minister | Parvez Elahi |
| Preceded by | Muhammad Hashim Dogar(as Minister) |
| Advisor to the Chief Minister, Information | |
| In office 6 August 2022 – 14 January 2023 | |
| Governor | Baligh Ur Rehman |
| Chief Minister | Parvez Elahi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Omer Sarfraz Cheema 24 July 1969 Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Political party | PTI (1996-present) |
Background
editCheema was born on July 24, 1969, in Wazirabad, Punjab and belongs to a Jat Family. He has studied at Saint Anthony's School Lahore. He did his graduation from Government College University Lahore.[6]
Political career
editHe entered politics in 1996 and was a key founding member of PTI. According to PTI, he held party positions in various Tehsils.
On 3 April 2022, amidst a constitutional crisis in Punjab, Cheema was appointed as the Governor of Punjab by Imran Khan after the removal of Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar.[7][8]
Following the No-confidence motion against Imran Khan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a summary for the removal of Cheema as Governor of Punjab to President Arif Alvi,[9] The president approved the summary, though the President also stated that he resisted the removal,[2] and Cheema was removed from office on 10 May 2022.[10][11]
Cheema was inducted into the cabinet of Chaudhry Parvez Elahi as the Punjab Chief Minister's advisor on information on 6 August 2022 and as advisor on Home and Prisons from 13 October 2022. He ceased to hold both offices on 14 January 2023.[12][13]
On 10 May 2023, Cheema was arrested after a 4:00 AM raid on his house by authorities a day after PTI chairman Imran Khan was arrested.[14]
Incarceration
editFollowing his arrest, Cheema was caught in various legal troubles due to his relation with the May 9 riots. He was held in jail on judicial remand which was later extended by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). On 22 June 2023 Cheema's wife, Rabia Sultan was arrested while waiting outside the ATC in Lahore.[15] Authorities alleged Cheema and Rabia had a relation to the May 9 riots. Cheema is currently incarcerated, and his wife has alleged that he is not being provided with basic needs or facilities while imprisoned by the authorities.[4][5]
On 22 November, Cheema was re-arrested in a case related to the May 9 riots,[16] which PTI alleges is a false flag operation.[17]
References
edit- ^ Malik, Mansoor (10 May 2022). "Punjab governor removed despite president's resistance". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b Malik, Mansoor (10 May 2022). "Punjab governor removed despite president's resistance". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ Tahir, Zulqernain (31 May 2022). "Alvi concedes, Baligh becomes Punjab governor". DAWN.
- ^ a b "'Incarcerated' Umar Sarfraz Cheema reaffirms support for Imran Khan". 22 November 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Reply sought on jail facilities for Cheema". The Express Tribune. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Omar Sarfraz Cheema Made New Punjab Governor As Imran Khan Faces No-trust Vote". The Margalla Today. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ "Govt appoints Omer Cheema as Punjab governor, sacks Chaudhry Sarwar". Dawn. 3 April 2022.
- ^ "Sarwar gets the boot as govt appoints Omar Cheema as governor Punjab". Express Tribune. 3 April 2022.
- ^ Siddiqui, Naveed (9 May 2022). "President Alvi 'strongly rejects' PM's advice to remove Punjab governor". DAWN.
- ^ Malik, Mansoor (10 May 2022). "Punjab governor removed despite president's resistance". DAWN.
- ^ Siddiqui, Naveed (21 May 2022). "Punjab governor logjam continues as Alvi tells Shehbaz that Cheema still holds office". DAWN.
- ^ "Imran approves Omar Sarfraz Cheema's appointment as advisor to Punjab home minister". Dunya News. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Punjab CM appoints 3 advisors, 4 special assistants". The Nation. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Shahzad, M. (10 May 2023). "Former Punjab governor Omar Cheema arrested". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Omar Sarfraz Cheema's wife arrested from Lahore's anti-terrorism court". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ Bilal, Rana (20 November 2023). "PTI's Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema arrested in fresh case linked to May 9 violence in Lahore". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "'Imran to Nation': May 9 false flag operation pre-planned to crush PTI". 8 May 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.