Court restores Dost Mazari’s powers
Amraiz Khan Lahore
The Lahore High Court rejected the petition of Hamza Shahbaz regarding the early election of Punjab Chief Minister and ordered to hold the same on April 16. The court, while delivering a safe verdict on the petition of the Deputy Speaker, restored the powers of Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari also.
Chief Justice Lahore High Court Amir Ali Bhatti gave a brief verdict on the petitions of Deputy Speaker and Hamza Shahbaz.
The court added in its order that all parties would perform their duties impartially. All the staff of the Provincial Assembly will fully cooperate in holding the elections. Secretary Punjab Assembly should complete all the arrangements by April 15. All vandalism of the assembly occurred during last session should be rectified before election proceedings.
PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz, a contender for the CM’s post, had filed a plea in the LHC for holding early elections, while Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari had moved the court for the revocation of his PTI Chairman Imran Khan had nominated Speaker of Punjab Assembly Pervaiz Elahi for chief minister, but since there is a divide within PTI on the decision, he is expected to face a tough competition with the Opposition recently showing that it has the numbers to win the polls. The chief justice ordered PA Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari to complete the election process on April 16 (Saturday) and directed all parties to fulfil their responsibilities according to the law and the Constitution.
To be elected as the chief minister, a candidate will need at least 186 votes in the 371-member house. In the Punjab Assembly, the PTI has 183 lawmakers, PML-Q 10, PML-N 165, PPP seven, five are independent and one belongs to Rah-i-Haq.
