Islamabad - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has finally chosen Senator Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana for Punjab governorship after thorough scrutiny of his political loyalty, to avoid the kind of unpleasant experience he had with former whistle blowing governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar.
Chaudhry Sarwar resigned on January 29, months after he developed differences with Sharif brothers, and subsequently joined the PTI of their rival Imran Khan – something seen by ruling party circles as an act of betrayal.
President Mamnoon Hussain is yet to notify the appointment of Rafique Rajwana, the governor-designate Senator himself broke the news on the floor of the Upper House on Thursday and later called on the prime minister. During this meeting, Rajwana assured his loyalty to prime minister and told him that he will come up to the expectations of the leadership.
According to informed sources, Prime Minister Sharif has already sent his summary to the president for notification of Mr Rajwana as new governor of Punjab. The incoming governor belongs to historic Multan city in southern Punjab and has been very active in PML-N politics throughout his political career.
Rajwana has long political affiliation with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. He was elected senator in 1997 and 2012. In February 2014, he was appointed chairman of parliamentary committee for appointment of Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan. He has been member of senate committees of Foreign Affairs, Law, Justice and Human Rights, Government Assurances; Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, Senate House Committee, and Devolution Process committee.
A lawyer by profession, Rafique Rajwana joined judiciary in 1987 but resigned soon and started to run his law firm – Rajwana& Rajwana. In 1996, he was elected as a President of High Court Bar Association Multan. His main area of practice is Civil, Company, Alternate Dispute Resolution and International/local Arbitration.
He has conducted a number of high profile cases, including the case of Nawaz Sharif, Memogate (Pakistan) Scandal and Election Expenses case. He also conducted cases of Alstom Energy Ltd, Rally Energy Ltd, Liverpool Cotton Association, and many others.
Now with appointment of Rajwana as governor of Punjab, the home province of the prime minister, the PML-N topnotch will have to pick another loyalist for the slot of Senate seat vacated by Malik Rafique Rajwana.
Many political observers believed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif might opt for another loyalist for the Senate slot from southern districts; to do away with political perception that the ruling party has to take major leads to consolidate its power in the most populous province.