A Lahore High Court full bench, headed by Justice Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq, on Wednesday adjourned the cases of identical petitions disputing the eligibility of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as Shahid Orakzai, a freelance journalist sought to send further submissions.
The petitioner demanded the court declare that Sharif is unable to hold the office of the CM since June 21, after being elected from PP 10. The petitioner argued that Sharif took oath on June 8 as the Punjab Assembly Member from PP 48, but according to article 223 (4), he lost his seat in the assembly on June 21 as a result of the notification of his unopposed election from PP 10.
Orakzai said, "Shahbaz had chosen to bypass the given course by a tricky resignation from his second seat, instead of obeying the Constitution, particularly clause (4) of the article. He is adamant that he can still hold his first seat in defiance of article 223". The journalist added that "he is no longer the leader of the house in the assembly and as such he cannot hold the office of the CM or participate in the meetings of the assembly or any committee thereof."
Orakzai asked that the Punjab Chief Secretary be directed to ensure the vacation of the Chief Minister's office by Sharif, and report all the decisions taken by the CM after June 21 to the governor as required under clause (c) of Article 131 of the Constitution. He also said that the Election Commission must withhold all actions required under the constitution and the law in the consequence of the notification issued for PP 48 and PP 10 until the disposal of this petition. He prayed that Shahbaz be restrained from invoking article 112 until the ruling of this court and sought directions for the commission to announce an election schedule for PP 48.
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