# Governor of Punjab, Pakistan

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

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

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

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

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

| No. | Name | Portrait | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office |
| West Punjab | West Punjab | West Punjab | West Punjab | West Punjab | West Punjab |
| 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 |
| 3 | I. I. Chundrigar | | 24 November 1951 | 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 |
| 6 | Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani | | 26 November 1954 | 14 October 1955 | 322 days |

### Governors of West Pakistan

| N | Governor of West Pakistan | Tenure | Party Background | Form of Government |
| - | Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani | 14 October 1955 – 27 August 1957 | Muslim League | Democratic government |
| 7 | Akhter Husain | September 1957 – 12 April 1960 | Independent | Military government |
| 8 | Amir Mohammad Khan | 12 April 1960 – 18 September 1966 | Muslim League | Military government / Civilian authority |
| 9 | General (retired) Muhammad Musa | 18 September 1966 – 20 March 1969 | Independent | Civilian Authority |
| 10 | Yusuf Haroon | 20 March 1969 – 25 March 1969 | Civilian Government | Civilian Authority |
| N | Martial Law Administrator | Tenure Term | Type of Government | Service in effect |
| 11 | Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman | 25 March 1969 – 29 August 1969 | Military Government | Pakistan Army |
| 12 | Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan | 29 August 1969 – 1 September 1969 | Military Government | Pakistan Army |
| 13 | Air Marshal Nur Khan | 1 September 1969 – 1 February 1970 | Military Government | Pakistan Air Force |
| 14 | Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman | 1 February 1970 – 1 July 1970 | Military Government | Pakistan Army |

## Punjab Province

| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Duration | Party Background |
| - | Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman | 1 July 1970 | 23 December 1971 | 540 Days (1 year, 5 months, 3 days) | |
| 15 | Ghulam Mustafa Khar | 23 December 1971 | 12 November 1973 | 690 days (1 year, 10 months, 20 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 16 | Sadiq Hussain Qureshi | 12 November 1973 | 14 March 1975 | 487 days (1 year, 4 months, 2 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 17 | Ghulam Mustafa Khar | 14 March 1975 | 31 July 1975 | 139 days (4 months, 17 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 18 | Mohammad Abbas Abbasi | 31 July 1975 | 5 July 1977 | 705 days (1 year, 11 months, 5 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 19 | Aslam Riaz Hussain | 5 July 1977 | 18 September 1978 | 440 days (1 year, 2 months, 13 days) | |
| 20 | Sawar Khan | 18 September 1978 | 1 May 1980 | 591 days (1 year, 7 months, 13 days) | |
| 21 | Ghulam Jilani Khan | 1 May 1980 | 30 December 1985 | 2069 days (5 years, 7 months, 29 days) | |
| 22 | Sajjad Hussain Qureshi | 30 December 1985 | 9 December 1988 | 1075 days (2 years, 11 months, 9 days) | |
| 23 | Tikka Khan | 9 December 1988 | 06 August 1990 | 605 days (1 year, 7 months, 28 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 24 | Mian Muhammad Azhar | 6 August 1990 | 25 April 1993 | 993 days (2 years, 8 months, 19 days) | Pakistan Muslim League |
| 25 | Chaudhary Altaf Hussain | 25 April 1993 | 19 July 1993 | 85 days (2 months, 24 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 26 | Iqbal Khan | 19 July 1993 | 26 March 1994 | 250 days (8 months, 7 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 27 | Chaudhary Altaf Hussain | 26 March 1994 | 22 May 1995 | 422 days (1 year, 1 month, 26 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 28 | Raja Saroop Khan | 19 June 1995 | 6 November 1996 | 506 days 1 year, 4 months, 18 days | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 29 | Khawaja Tariq Rahim | 11 November 1996 | 11 March 1997 | 120 days 4 months | |
| 30 | Shahid Hamid | 11 March 1997 | 18 August 1999 | 890 days (2 years, 5 months, 7 days) | Pakistan Muslim League (N) |
| 31 | Zulfiqar Ali Khosa | 12 August 1999 | 25 October 1999 | 73 days | Pakistan Muslim League (N) |
| 32 | Muhammad Safdar | 25 October 1999 | 29 October 2001 | 796 days (2 years, 2 months, 4 days) | |
| 33 | Khalid Maqbool | 29 October 2001 | 16 May 2008 | 2391 days (6 years, 6 months, 17 days) | |
| 34 | Salmaan Taseer* | 17 May 2008 | 4 January 2011 | 962 days (2 years, 7 months, 18 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 35 | Latif Khosa | 13 January 2011 | 2 January 2013 | 720 days (1 year, 11 months, 20 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 36 | Syed Ahmed Mahmud | 3 January 2013 | 13 May 2013 | 131 days (4 months, 11 days) | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| 37 | Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar | 2 August 2013 | 29 January 2015 | 545 days (1 year, 5 months, 27 days) | Pakistan Muslim League (N) |
| 38 | Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana | 7 May 2015 | 18 August 2018 | 1199 days (3 years, 3 months, 11 days) | Pakistan Muslim League (N) |
| 39 | Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar | 5 September 2018 | 3 April 2022 | 1306 days (3 years, 6 months, 29 days) | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf |
| 40 | Omar Sarfraz Cheema | 3 April 2022 | 10 May 2022 | 57 days (1 month, 27 days) | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf |
| 41 | Baligh Ur Rehman | 30 May 2022 | 10 May 2024 | 710 days (1 year, 11 months, 10 days) | Pakistan Muslim League (N) |
| 42 | Sardar Saleem Haider Khan | 10 May 2024 | Incumbent | | Pakistan People's Party |