PML-Q moves SC against assigning powers to PA deputy speaker

Petition contends court’s decision interfered with powers of parliament

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) challenged on Tuesday the transfer of powers to the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker in the Supreme Court (SC).

According to Express News, the petition contended that the court’s decision interfered with the powers of parliament, highlighting that constitutionally the workings of the parliament cannot be interfered with, and that all institutions were bound to abide by their constitutional limits.

Last week, the apex court announced re-elections for Punjab chief minister's post on July 22 and ordained that a transparent contest must be held under PA Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammed Mazari, as PA Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi himself was partaking in the election.

The move came after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and PML-Q challenged the Lahore High Court's decision to recount the votes polled during the April 16 Punjab chief minister's election.

Read PTI, PML-Q to move SC against LHC order

The Supreme Court ruled that re-election for the Punjab chief minister’s slot will be held on July 22 after the rival parties — PML-N, PML-Q and PTI — reached a consensus on the matter.

Earlier, the Punjab Assembly speaker had transferred and subsequently withdrawn his powers from PA Deputy Speaker Mazari.

After a petition was filed against the speaker’s move, the LHC quashed the decision of withdrawing powers from the deputy speaker.