LHC seeks replies over Elahi’s plea against clipping of powers

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday sought replies from the respondents, including the Punjab government, on a petition filed by Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi against an ordinance that curtailed the powers of the assembly secretariat.
Justice Sajid Mehmood Sethi also issued notice to Punjab Advocate General Shehzad Shaukat for assisting the court on the matter. In his plea, Elahi challenged the ordinance through which the powers of assembly secretariat were curtailed and were brought under the law department.
The petition also challenged Governor Balighur Rehman’s decision to call off the 40th session of the assembly and commencement of 41st session in “violation” of due procedures.
The petition also contested Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari’s notification through which Special Secretary (Admin) Amir Habib replaced the Punjab Assembly secretary in “sheer violation” of the Constitution.
The petitioner submitted that the ordinance was in violation of rules of assembly and the Constitution. Elahi also urged the court to strike down the ordinance and the notice of Deputy Speaker Mazari as they bore “mala fide” intent.
Separately, another single bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) requested the chief justice to fix petitions pertaining to election of Hamza Shehbaz as chief executive of the province before a larger bench for hearing.
Justice Shahid Waheed heard the petitions filed by Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, provincial lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and others.
The court observed that the petitions against oath-taking of the Punjab chief minister and his election were linked with each other. The court noted that already a larger bench was hearing petitions pertaining to the chief minister’s oath-taking and the present petitions should also be heard by it.