PTI to file contempt plea with SC against Hamza

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court (SC) against Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif over alleged violation of the July 1 order wherein the latter was allowed to work as the CM until July 22.

The contempt petition is likely to be moved on behalf of Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Sibtain Khan in the apex court on Thursday (today), sources confirmed to The Express Tribune.

The plea would refer to the arrest of Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Haleem Adil in Lahore. Likewise, the petitioner would also raise the issue of a package announced by CM Punjab against the poll conduct.

Earlier, PTI senior leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain had written to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial drawing the latter’s attention to Punjab CM’s violation of the court’s directions and election code of conduct by announcing a mega relief package ahead of by-polls in the province.

Fawad said that Hamza announced the package a few days before the by-polls in 20 constituencies in an attempt to influence the by-elections, adding that the details of this package have also been published by national newspapers.

Also read: ECP summons Hamza for violating poll conduct

The former information minister termed it a “fake package” as it could not be materialised due to the dwindling economic situation of the country and added that Hamza’s sole purpose was to use the relief obtained from the court for its own political advantage and to influence the voters.It is pertinent to note that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has already summoned the CM over this announcement of the package.

Earlier, the SC on July 1 permitted Hamza and his cabinet to hold office until the re-election of the provincial chief minister scheduled for July 22.

The SC issued a written order on the PTI’s plea challenging the Lahore High Court (LHC) ruling ordering a recount of votes polled for the election of Punjab CM held on April 16.

The apex court maintained in its order, penned by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, that, “Mr [Hamza] Sharif has undertaken before the court that he and his cabinet shall exercise the powers and function their offices strictly in a fiduciary capacity as envisaged by the Constitution and the law to support the process of the by-election in the province to be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner by the Election Commission of Pakistan”.

The court stated that the commitment to act as trustees of the office is contingent on fulfilling the duty of care towards citizens of Punjab “so that they are not deprived of due representation and governance”.