LAHORE – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday issued notices to formerinterior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan (MPA-elect) on a petition seekingdirections for de-notifying him for not taking oath as member of the PunjabAssembly.The single bench comprising Justice Shahid Waheed, which heard a petitionfiled by Advocate Mian Asif Mehmood, also issued notices to the federation,Punjab government and Election Commission of Pakistan.Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Nisar Ali Khan was elected asMPA from PP-10 Chakri in 2018 general elections but he did not take oath ofhis office despite the lapse of more than six months.
He contended that the act of not taking oath by an elected parliamentarianamounted to depriving the people of the constituency of their right torepresentation and a violation of Articles 2-A, 17 and 25 of theConstitution.The counsel further contended that rule 6 of the Rules of Procedure andConduct of Business in the National and provincial assemblies to the extentof not providing time limit for taking oath was also ultra vires of theConstitution.He asked the court to declare the impugned rules of the assemblies null andvoid for not carrying a time frame of oath taking, de-notify Nisar Ali Khanfor not taking oath of his office and order a fresh election in theconstituency.At this, the court issued notices to the respondents and sought reply whileadjourning further hearing.
