*LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday heard implementation petitionwith regard to the court’s order for oath taking of Punjab’s ChiefMinister-elect Hamza Shehbaz.*
Chief Justice LHC Muhammad Ameer Bhatti reserved verdict over the petitionafter hearing arguments on the case.
Advocate General Punjab Ahmad Awais argued that the court should not hearthe matter, as it has been under consideration of the President. “Thepetition is non-maintainable,” he said.
“The Prime Minister has wrote letter to the President, who is looking intothe matter,” AG Punjab said. “Which clause of the constitution allows thegovernor to inquire into election,” the court questioned.
“The deputy speaker conducted the election on the orders of the court,”Chief Justice said. ” Deputy Speaker was elected on behalf of the PTI,later he changed the side,” advocate general said. “This matter is notunder our hearing,” the bench remarked.
“The president is not answerable to anyone under the constitution,” AGPunjab argued. “The president can not be made bound to take decision in aspecific period. It will be better for all to tackle the matter withpatience,” he said.
“You see how the court order has been tackled. We had sent the matter tothe President, what he did with it,” the court observed.
“You are working under the constitution, what is happening in Punjab. Theprovince is without a chief minister and cabinet for how many days, is itconstitutional,” the bench asked. “All matters will be delayed for 15 days,saying the constitution permits it. The constitution allows for 15 days,you have to give answer of every moment why the matter was delayed,” chiefjustice LHC said.
“You were not expected to give such answer,” chief justice told the AGPunjab.
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“I am here for the constitution and it will be anarchy, if the constitutionnot implemented,” advocate general said.
“The report was sent to the Prime Minister who directed for implementationon the court’s order,” a government official told the court.
“President is the head of the state, what he did in past several days forsolution of the problem,” chief justice asked. “If he will only waiting forcompletion of the constitutional period. We tried to give all respect tothe President but perhaps he didn’t like it,” Chief Justice LHC said. “Ifthe matter will be resolved before 15 days or not,” he questioned.
“No action taken from the president from 1st to 22 April, when the court’sorder sent to him, now being said that there are 15 days remaining,” chiefjustice remarked. “The Governor sent the ball to the President, now thetime is being passed,” the bench remarked.
“They have made the constitution a joke and playing with it like pingpong,” Advocate Ashtar Ausaf who is representing Hamza Shehbaz in the case,said.
Chief Justice addressing the AG Punjab asked him to read the reply of thepresident and tell, “If he wants to resolve the matter”.
The court after completion of the lawyers arguments reserved its verdictover the matter.
