Plea filed to put off presidential reference till May 17
PM Shehbaz Sharif meets with Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Akhtar Mengal and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) parliamentary leader Khalid Magsi
The Supreme Court on Saturday received a petition, seeking adjournment of the presidential reference hearing.
The plea was filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan on the grounds that the general adjournment was approved from April 18 to May 17.
The petitioner noted that in all other cases, petitions for adjournment were granted. Therefore, the counsel requested that following the approval of the general adjournment, the presidential reference be fixed for hearing after May 17.
After certain lawmakers openly rebelled against the former ruling party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ahead of the vote of no confidence, the government approached the apex court to seek interpretation of Article 63A of the Constitution.
The presidential reference questioned the validity of the votes of defecting lawmakers and asked whether they could be disqualified for life.
Currently, the prime minister is on a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. He left the country on Thursday.