PTI challenges LHC's ruling on Punjab CM election in SC

 The former Rolling Party demanded an election order and was suspended.

And correspondents : July 01, 2022

Islamabad:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday challenged in the Supreme Court the decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to elect Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shahbaz as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, Hamza Shahbaz and others have been made parties in the petition filed in the Supreme Court.

In its appeal, the PTI said that while the Lahore High Court had acknowledged the party's position, the order to convene a meeting of the provincial assembly on short notice would be detrimental.

The petition called the LHC's decision "unconstitutional" and said a reasonable time frame should be provided for convening the assembly so that all members could attend, as the recount would take place on July 1 (today). Is.

The PTI further demanded that Hamza Shahbaz be suspended from his post so that "fair and transparent elections" could be held.

In light of his position, the PTI demanded immediate suspension of the election order, and an urgent hearing of his appeal to the Supreme Court.

'Beyond comprehension'

Addressing the media after filing the petition, PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the appeal had exposed "many ambiguities" in the Lahore High Court's decision.

Read : Vote recount for pumjab CM contest ordered

"The rights of Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi have been ignored," Chaudhry added.

Barrister added that if the Chief Minister is to be elected, appropriate time should be provided as some PTI lawmakers have already left for Umrah.

"The decision of the Lahore High Court to hold the elections so early is beyond comprehension," he added.

He further hoped that the Supreme Court would hear "important issues" today, adding that the Deputy Speaker was a "controversial figure".

If the first election was wrong then how can there be a second round. He asked.

'Easy win'

The recent decision of the Lahore High Court to recount the votes for the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab will in all likelihood provide an easy victory for the provincial chief Hamza Shahbaz who is likely to easily win the second round of elections for this seat. ۔

In the Punjab Assembly, the PML-N is in a comfortable position with a majority of almost nine votes. The PTI and its ally PML-Q, which has no real chance of contesting the next Punjab Chief Ministerial election, have decided to approach the Supreme Court against the decision and allegedly hold elections. Has announced a boycott.

On the other hand, Hamza will remain in office as the Lahore High Court has directed the Presiding Officer to recount the votes of the Punjab Chief Minister by reducing the votes of PTI defectors to 25 and in the second round of elections. Go.

The decision of the Lahore High Court to recount the votes was first misinterpreted as some people thought that the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab had been declared null and void and Hamza had been disqualified. He further said that Usman Bazdar has again become the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab.

The court's decision was hailed as a victory by its PTI leaders. Mian Mahmood Al-Rasheed said that the decision called for celebration as Hamza was no longer the Chief Minister.

However, after reading the order carefully, PTI leaders and many others learned that the provincial government was still in place, as was the Chief Minister and his cabinet. The court in its judgment had ordered only recount of votes without the disqualification of 25 PTI parliamentarians.

It was also clear from the facts before the court that Hamza did not have a simple majority. However, the court refrained from assuming the role of presiding officer and ordered a recount of votes today.