LHC dismisses petition against CM

Petition filed by a local citizen dismissed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed a petition seeking disqualification of Chief Minster Shehbaz Sharif for allegedly holding two offices at the same time. The petition, filed by a local citizen, was dismissed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh. The petitioner’s counsel contended that Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif could not hold two offices at the same time under the law. However, he was holding two offices which was against the norms of the Constitution, he added. He maintained that Shehbaz Sharif was serving as the CM and also discharging duties as chairperson of Punjab Mass Transit Authority which was illegal. He contended the CM violated his oath by holding two different offices at the same time. He requested the court that the chief minister should be disqualified under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution. Meanwhile, a law officer representing the Punjab government opposed the petition and said the petitioner was not amongst the affected people so the petition should be dismissed as it was non-maintainable.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2018.