On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) ruled Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari’s verdict in the Punjab Chief Minister’s election “illegal” and ruled that PTI’s candidate Pervez Elahi will be the new CM Punjab. “The deputy speaker’s ruling is illegal. There is no legal justification for his ruling,” said the Supreme Court in an 11-page short order.
Supreme Court Rules Hamza Shehbaz’s Appointments and Oath as Null and Void
Moreover, the three-member court bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Muneeb Akhtar, also ordered Punjab Governor Baligh ur Rehman to administer the oath to Pervaiz Elahi at 11:30 pm, adding that if he refuses to perform his duties, President Arif Alvi will administer the oath. The top court also announced appointments made by Hamza Shahbaz and the oath administered to the Punjab cabinet “null and void”.
“Hamza Shahbaz and his cabinet members should leave their posts immediately,” ruled the apex court. The court further said that its order should be implemented at once, and directed authorities concerned that copies of the verdict should be sent to the Punjab governor, the chief secretary, and the deputy speaker. Earlier, CJP Bandial had said that the judgment would be issued at 5:45 pm and later it was scheduled to be announced at 7:30 pm. However, the verdict was announced after a three-hour delay via short order.
CM Punjab Election Case Over Threw Deputy Speaker’s Ruling
Pervaiz Elahi, who bagged 186 votes against Hamza’s 179 votes, had challenged the ruling in SC after deputy speaker Mazari rejected 10 PML-Q votes for going against the party chief’s directive. The hearing against the ruling of the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker in the CM Election process continued for three days. Earlier, CJP Bandial had said that the judgment would be issued at 5:45 pm and later it was scheduled to be announced at 7:30 pm. However, the verdict was announced after a three-hour delay via short order.
Read more: Hamza Shehbaz Retains the Position of Punjab CM in the Elections
