Lahore High Court orders to hold election of Punjab Chief Minister on April 16

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that the election of the new Chief Minister of Punjab should be held on April 16.   PML-N lawyer says ...

PM meets Qatar emir in Doha, appreciates ‘continued support’ for Pakistan’s development initiatives

Imran dodges arrest after Islamabad Police show up at Lahore residence with court summons

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that the election of the new Chief Minister of Punjab should be held on April 16.

 

PML-N lawyer says every passing moment is wasted because there is no government to serve the people - File Photo: Lahore High Court Website

The apex court had reserved its decision on the petitions for holding election of Chief Minister in Punjab yesterday. According to the decision issued today, voting has been ordered for holding the election of Chief Minister on April 16.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Amir Bhatti in his judgment directed the Deputy Speaker to complete the voting process for the election of the new Leader of the House on April 16. In this regard, all parties should fulfill their responsibilities under law and constitution All staff should fully cooperate in conducting the election.

 

Read also: Decision reserved on Hamza Shahbaz request for voting for Punjab Chief Minister

 

It may be recalled that the Lahore High Court had yesterday reserved its decision on the petition of PML-N candidate Hamza Shahbaz regarding the voting for the Punjab Chief Ministerial election after the completion of the arguments of the lawyers.

The petition seeking election of Chief Minister of Punjab was heard by Chief Justice Lahore High Court Amir Bhatti.

In this regard, PML-N lawyer Azam Nazir Tarar, PML-Q lawyer Syed Ali Zafar and Secretary Punjab Assembly Muhammad Khan Bhatti appeared in the court.

During the hearing, Prime Minister Nazir Tarar had told the court that the deputy speaker had taken charge of his office on a court order.

During the hearing, the PML-Q lawyer once again declared the petitions inadmissible and told the court that the Lahore High Court had no power to change the date of elections.

Read also: Lahore High Court: Notice to Speaker, Deputy Speaker on request for election of Punjab Chief Minister

He said that the petitioners were challenging the executive powers of the Provincial Assembly while the Provincial Assembly has also been made a party in the petitions.

He had said that the matter was still pending in the Supreme Court and therefore the Lahore High Court could not hear the case.

Continuing, he said that it was as if the provincial assembly had started asking the court for adjournment of cases, adding that parliament and courts respect each other and therefore do not interfere in jurisdiction.

The PML-Q lawyer said that if the courts and the parliament interfered in each other's power, it would lead to a confrontation.

He had said that according to the petitioners, the assembly rules were not being implemented but it was a matter for the assembly.

Read also: Supreme Court decision: PTI faces difficulties in postponing Punjab Chief Minister's election

The Chief Justice had inquired whether it was in the rules that the election of the Chief Minister would be held expeditiously.

He said that the rule was that the Assembly would not do anything other than electing the Chief Minister.

The Chief Justice had remarked that the process of nomination papers must be completed one day before the voting. With only four days left in the election, moving the date back and forth will not do anything.

The Chief Justice had inquired as to why the Chief Ministerial candidate had withdrawn the powers when the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly had given powers to the Deputy Speaker, to which lawyer Ali Zafar had said that the powers had not been given for the election phase.

He had said that the Speaker would decide what powers the Assembly has and what powers he should have.

The PML-Q lawyer had told the court that the PML-N sat outside the assembly and tried to form another government in the presence of one government which is unconstitutional.

He said that even the chief secretary and bureaucracy of PML-N wanted to be contacted now.

The Chief Justice had remarked that no one can come to office without taking oath.

PML-Q's lawyer had requested that the petitions of Hamza Shahbaz and Dost Mazari be rejected and voting for the Chief Minister be directed to be held on April 16.

When the court proceedings resumed after the hearing was adjourned for some time, the PML-Q lawyer had told the court that now the Deputy Speaker could not get the Punjab Chief Minister elected as the presiding officer.

He had said that he did not trust the Deputy Speaker and he could not hold a clean election. The Deputy Speaker has already started imposing sanctions on the Secretary Punjab Assembly.

On the conversation of the PML-Q lawyer, the court had inquired what could be done in such a situation on which Ali Zafar said that the panel of chairman would preside over the meeting after the deputy speaker.

The Chief Justice had inquired what would happen if both the parties insisted on presiding over the meeting of their respective candidates.

The PML-Q lawyer had replied that in these circumstances there would be a deadlock and the governor could rule in the province.

On this occasion, the lawyer of Hamza Shahbaz had told the court that there are four members in the Punjab Assembly as independents, one of whom should be appointed as the presiding officer for voting.

The PML-Q lawyer had expressed distrust on the four members and said that Jagnu Mohsin is with Hamza Shahbaz, we do not trust the four members to which Hamza Shahbaz' lawyer had replied Come for elections, if you don't trust anyone, elect Hamza Shahbaz as Chief Minister without contest.

Following the completion of the arguments of the lawyers, the Lahore High Court had reserved its decision on the application for voting for the Chief Minister of Punjab, which was announced some time ago.