Buzdar’s resignation challenged in LHC

Petition prays upon the court to declare the election of Hamza Shahbaz as CM illegal

LAHORE:

A petition was filed in the Lahore High Court on Wednesday challnged the resignation of former chief minister Usman Buzdar arguing that the former governor, Muhammad Sarwar, violated the Constitution by accepting it.

Petitioner Muhammad Tanveer filed a petition through advocate Nadeem Sarwar and requested the court that the action of the former governor be declared illegal as he accepted the resignation in which he was not addressed.

“How could he [Sarwar] accept a resignation which was addressed to the then prime minister, Imran Khan?” he questioned.

He further prayed to the court that the election and actions taken by PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz also be declared illegal and unlawful as he is not the chief minister of Punjab. "Till the final disposal of this petition, Hamza Sheabaz be restrained from acting as CM Punjab," stated the petition. 

The counsel raised the point that governor Punjab violated Article 130 (8) of the Constitution as the resignation had not been addressed him.

Read More: Buzdar's resignation letter intensifies constitutional crisis

He added that Article130 (3) stated that "the chief minister may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Governor, resign his office, but in this matter, this was not done".

The counsel further implored that after the illegal acceptance of the resignation, PML-N’s Hamza was elected as chief minister of Punjab on a vacant seat.

Usman Buzdar, Hamza, Governor Punjab Omar Sharif Cheema, former governor Sarwar and former prime minister Imran Khan were made respondents in the petition.