LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has issued notices to the concerned parties on PTI’s request to make the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab clean and transparent and has sought their reply by tomorrow.
Justice Alia Neelam heard the petition filed by PTI member Punjab Assembly Zainab Umeer through Advocate Azhar Siddique in Lahore High Court.
In the petition filed by Zainab Umeer, the Punjab government, Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz, Speaker Punjab Assembly, IG Punjab, Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) A party has been made in the application.
During the hearing, the court inquired as to who is harassing the Tehreek-e-Insaf members, to which the petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Azhar Siddique, said that the harassment is being done by Rana Sanaullah.
The court asked where those who are being harassed are, to which the petitioner’s lawyer said that Member of Provincial Assembly Zainab Umeer Isbamli is participating in the meeting.
The petitioner’s lawyer said that during the night, the members of the provincial assembly received messages from the police to harass them.
The court, while questioning the making of these messages a part of the petition, ordered that the messages be attached to the petition.
Later, the court issued notices to the concerned parties and sought their reply till tomorrow.
It should be noted that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) approached the Lahore High Court to conduct the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab in a clear and transparent manner.
Earlier in the petition filed in the Lahore High Court, PTI leader Zainab Umeer had taken the position that Tehreek-e-Insaf has won the by-elections, on the order of the Supreme Court, the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab will be held on July 22. During or before Tehreek-e-Insaf members of the Provincial Assembly may be harassed.
Zainab Umeer further expressed apprehension that negative tactics may be used to prevent Tehreek-e-Insaf members from casting their votes.
In the petition, the Lahore High Court has been requested to order the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab in a fair and transparent manner and to stop the government from taking any illegal action against the members of Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
It should be noted that on July 1, the Supreme Court ordered Hamza Shehbaz to be re-elected as Chief Minister on July 22 as per the decision of the Lahore High Court.
After the hearing in the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court had given this order after a consensus was reached between Pakistan Muslim League (N) Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz and PTI candidate Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.
It should be remembered that on April 16, the leader of Muslim League (N) Hamza Shehbaz was elected as the 21st Chief Minister of Punjab by getting 197 votes, he got 11 votes more than the required 186 votes to be elected.
25 PTI defectors were among those who voted for Hamza Shehbaz as Chief Minister.
PTI had approached the Supreme Court for the interpretation of Article 63A of the Constitution. Interpreting the reference filed by the President, the Supreme Court had said that those who deviate from the party policy under Article 63A. Assembly members will not only be de-seated but also their vote will not be counted.
PTI had approached the Election Commission against the defecting members in the light of the Supreme Court’s decision, on which the Election Commission de-seated them on May 20, after which the votes received by Hamza Shehbaz in the House. The number was reduced from 197 to 172.
In the July 17 by-elections, the PTI defeated the Muslim League-N by winning at least 15 of the 20 seats left vacant after the disqualification of members who voted for Hamza Shahbaz for the Punjab chief ministership. The, after which the chances of success of his nominated candidate who now has 188 members are looking good.
