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LAHORE:
Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti advised the counsels of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) – and Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari on Monday to huddle in the office of Punjab’s advocate general to reach a consensus on the immediate election for the Punjab chief minister.
As the hearing over the delay in the CM’s election started, the high court asked about the process for the election. Punjab Assembly Secretary Ahmad Bhatti said the date for the CM election will be announced after the submission of nomination papers by the candidates and their scrutiny by the secretariat.
The secretary said during the last session on April 3, lawmakers allegedly belonging to the PML-N, destroyed the furniture of the house which was now being replaced. As a result of the ruckus, the session was adjourned till April 16, he claimed.
It may be noted that the session of the assembly was adjourned till April 6 but in a notification issued on April 5, the session’s date was changed to April 16. In another notification on the same day, the date was changed back to April 6, resulting in the sealing of the Punjab Assembly.
Justice Bhatti asked the politicians to let bygones be bygones and move forward for the sake of Pakistan and resolve issues with dialogues instead of confrontation.
PA Secretary Bhatti said the powers of Deputy Speaker Mazari – who had moved the LHC against the withdrawal of his powers – were revoked after a notification was made public through media that had said the session would be held on April 6 instead of April 16.
Speaker Pervaiz Elahi, a nominee for CMship as well, withdrew all powers of the acting speaker, he added. The powers of the deputy speaker were revoked because a no-confidence motion was submitted against him, the secretary informed the bench.
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CJ Bhatti asked about the date of the CM election, saying the date for the CM election could not be changed so what date should be fixed for the contest. The PA secretary’s counsel told the court that the PA has summoned the session on April 16 in this regard.
Advocate General Punjab (AGP) Ahmad Awais did not seem well prepared for arguments as on a point he argued that “Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari chaired the house at a local hotel”.
At this, Hamza Shehbaz’s counsel Azam Nazir Tarar argued that the deputy speaker did not conduct the session at a hotel.
The counsel for PA’s secretary told the court that the notification of summoning the house by April 6 was fake. “They did not receive any notification for the proceedings on April 6 that was why they did not allow anyone to enter the PA’s premises on the said date.”
The LHC chief justice today ordered that Mazari should be allowed into the Punjab Assembly premises. He further instructed the registrar of the LHC and Punjab Assembly Secretary Ahmad Mohammad Bhatti to accompany the deputy speaker to the assembly.
The registrar has been instructed to ensure Mazari reaches the assembly and also take stock of the assembly’s condition after the unrest earlier.
The court has allowed the deputy speaker to use his office, and have his security protocol restored. The chief justice of the high court then adjourned the hearing till Tuesday 9:30am.
PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz and Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari had moved the LHC through separate petitions over delay in the election for the CMship and withdrawal of Mazari’s power, respectively.
Later, the PML-Q also approached the court to become a party to the case as it sought the release of MPAs allegedly held hostage by the PML-N.
Tiff on polls
The tiff on the Punjab CM election started after the session to elect the CM on April 3 was adjourned after a ruckus. Deputy Speaker Mazari had adjourned the proceedings till April 6. But on April 5, the PA secretariat issued a notification extending the sitting date of the house to April 16. Later, another order was issued stating the house will meet on April 6.
The PA secretary and other administrative officers on the orders of the speaker sealed the PA and none of the lawmakers were allowed to enter the building on April 6.
The PML-N and its allies held a symbolic session at a local hotel in Lahore wherein Hamza was selected as the chief minister.