Punjab Assembly may declare CM’s election null and void

If Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari comes, he will not be allowed to enter into assembly, say PA sources

LAHORE:

Punjab Assembly may declare null and void the contest held on April 16 to elect Punjab chief minister on grounds that “all actions taken by the then acting speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari were illegal”.

A reliable source, seeking anonymity, told The Express Tribune that “procedure to declare the contest illegal would not be made part of assembly’s agenda items” in the session scheduled to be held on Thursday.

Quoting a senior politician, the source said that they may have to declare the contest illegal, adding that Deputy Speaker Mazari will not come to the assembly and if he comes he will not be allowed to enter the assembly.

Read more: Mazari vows to foil move hindering CM’s election

He said that their targets are to declare April 16 contest illegal and take "revenge" on deputy speaker Mazari in light of all actions he took on the election day.

He said that Mazari threw them out of assembly chambers and "they will also throw him outside". Any resistance from any side (opposition parties) will not be tolerated, he added.

When contacted, the PML-N camp said that they will remain calm as per the direction of newly-elected chief minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif.

However, they added that MPAs may go on protest or boycott if things go bad or if any illegal act is committed by the PTI lawmakers on the whim of Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

Also read: Mazari reminds PA secy he is ‘suspended’

The source further claimed that the PTI is confused over imposing a ban on media, adding that the party is divided on this issue. "Majority lawmakers suggested a complete ban on media from coverage on April 28 while some senior politicians proposed not to ban it."

As per the Punjab Assembly’s agenda issued on Wednesday, the PTI made a motion part of agenda item that will be passed to remove deputy speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari.

“Deputy Speaker Mazari has lost confidence amongst majority of the lawmakers owing to his conduct of not running assembly’s business in accordance with the Constitution. This house shows its distrust on Mazari," the motion said.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, Punjab Assembly issued new standard operating procedures (SOPs) relating to the assembly session.

According to the SOPs, guests will not be allowed in the assembly, all members of the provincial assembly will surrender their mobile phones at security staff outside the assembly chambers and the women MPAs will also submit their handbags to the security staff.