Questionable qualification: Verdict reserved on plea against Lahore’s likely mayor

Petitioner claims Khawaja Hassan ineligible to hold office

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved its verdict on Monday on a petition challenging the qualification of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s potential candidate for Lahore mayor.

Justice Shahid Karim reserved the verdict after the petitioner’s lawyers and Hassan concluded their arguments. The judge also reserved the decision on an application that sought a stay against upcoming mayoral election till the petition was decided.

The petitioner’s counsel, Sheraz Zaka, argued that Khawaja Ahmed Hassan, who is the chairman of UC-107, was not eligible to hold the office or to contest election for city mayor because he had resigned from his offices at different statutory bodies just one day before filing of the nomination papers for local government elections.

The counsel argued that Hassan had been serving as a vice-chairman of Lahore Development Authority (LDA), the PIC chairman, chairman of the Lahore Metro Bus Authority and Orange Line Metro Train Authority before going for election.

The counsel of Hassan argued the positions previously held by his client were honorary in nature and did not put any bar in terms of vying for election.

Medical colleges

The LHC also adjourned hearing of petitions challenging enforcement of 2016 admission regulations for private medical colleges, letting Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and petitioners reach a consensus solution.

As Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza resumed the hearing, PMDC lawyers and the petitioners said the reconciliation process was in progress and asked the court to adjourn hearing for a week.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2016.