Justice ShahidKarim of the Lahore High Court has recused himself from holding further proceedings on a petition challenging the presidential ordinance, which allows the appointment of retired judges besides serving judges as members of election tribunals. On May 28, Acting President YousufRazaGilani signed the Elections Act (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024, into law, allowing the appointment of retired judges alongside serving judges as members of election tribunals.
On Tuesday (today), as the proceedings commenced, Justice KarimShahid recused himself from further hearing and sent the case file to Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan. On the previous hearing, the lawyer representing the federation opposed the petition brought against the presidential ordinance by a citizenMashkoorHussain, who was instructed by the court to prepare for arguments.
The petitioner had listed the federal government and Law Ministry as respondents in his plea. In the plea, the petitioner argues that the presidential ordinance was based on mala fide, adding that it cannot be applied to the 2024 general elections in light of the recent high court decision regarding the appointment of the election tribunals. The petitioner requests the court to declare the presidential ordinance illegal and unconstitutional.
