Speaker’s plea for FIR registration dismissed

Police say case already filed against unknown persons

LAHORE:

A district court on Saturday dismissed an application of Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for registration of a case against newly-elected Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, MPAs supporting him, police officials and some unknown persons for thrashing him and his coalition’s men and women lawmakers in the assembly.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Yaseen Mohal announced the decision that had been reserved after hearing detailed arguments, including the version of the police.

The petitioner’s counsel had contended that his client was a candidate for the chief minister’s slot.

On April 16, the polling day, he was present in assembly chambers when a heavy police contingent comprising 200 to 300 personnel forced their way into the hall, violating the dignity of the house.

He alleged that the police women MPAs, as a result of which their male colleague were infuriated.

The counsel alleged the rival nominee for the post, PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz had directed his MPAs to ‘attack and kill’ the petitioner.

Later, on the direction of inspector general of police (IGP), the police officials carrying batons attacked him and PTI’s MPAs. He alleged that PML-N member Rana Mashhood snatched a club from a police official and hit the speaker, fracturing his arm.

They also injured other MPAs. He argued that when the petitioner went to Qila Gujar Singh police to lodge an FIR, they refused to entertain the request.

The police contended in their reply submitted to the court that an FIR had already been registered against unidentified persons and two cases could not be registered over a single occurrence.

The judge had reserved the decision after hearing the arguments.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said while talking to the media in Punjab Assembly that the PML-N was responsible for a constitutional crisis in the province.

He claimed that Hamza Shehbaz was not the chief minister and the whole process of his election was illegal.

The speaker said the proceedings of the assembly had been impeded on the election day. “

The election takes place on the floor of the assembly and not in the visitors’ gallery,” he added.

Pervaiz Elahi said the lobby where lawmakers had to cast their votes had been blocked by the police who had entered the house that was considered sacred. He said the situation would change in a few days.

He said he had always respected the judiciary and never treated it like the Sharif brothers.

“Our lawyers stood outside the court all night,” he added.

Referring to proceedings for disqualification of lawmakers who had changed their allegiance, the speaker said a constitutional crisis would not have arisen if the PML-N had waited for 28 days.

He said he was a candidate but he was tortured at the behest of Hamza Shehbaz and had lost consciousness.

He said the governor and president could not remain silent about the situation. The election of the chief minister had been scheduled for April 3 but Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari adjourned the session till April 6 because of a scuffle between PTI and PML-N’s women MPAs.

On April 5, Mazari postponed the proceedings till April 16, but later issued another order stating that the house would assemble on April 6.

The same day, Speaker Pervaiz Elahi withdrew the powers of Mazari as acting speaker. Following the delay in election, Hamza Shehbaz approached the Lahore High Court, while Mazari also appealed against the notification issued by the assembly secretariat for withdrawing his powers. LHC’s Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti directed Mazari to hold the voting on April 16.

The PTI challenged the decision before a division bench of the LHC, which upheld the CJ’s order.

On April 16, as Mazari came to preside over the session, PTI lawmakers attacked him, after which the police were called and the MPAs inciting others were taken out of the assembly.