LHC resumes hearing on CM Elahi’s plea

The governor has already engaged Mansoor Usman Awan as his counsel in this case while Ali Zafar will represent Elahi

ISLAMABAD:

All eyes are on the Lahore High Court (LHC) as it resumes the hearing of Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi’s petition against his de-notification by Governor Balighur Rehman for not taking a vote of confidence under Article 130 (7) of the Constitution today.

The governor has already engaged Mansoor Usman Awan as his counsel in this case while Ali Zafar will represent CM Elahi.

One legal mind of the PML-N revealed to The Express Tribune that there would be early conclusion of the proceeding by the LHC larger bench.

He said, “Their objective is to get instructions from the LHC for the CM to take a vote of confidence as per the governor’s direction under Article 130 (7) of the Constitution.” He cited the Peer Sabir case judgment wherein the governor’s discretion for directing the CM to take a vote of confidence was endorsed.

Even the LHC in its first order had observed that the CM might take a vote of confidence before January 11.

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Following that order, the PTI leaders had announced that the CM would take a vote of confidence before January 11 but it did not happen.

The PML-N leaders claimed that the CM “did not have the required number” to take a vote of confidence.

On the other hand, the PTI leaders believed that they had the required number but CM Elahi himself was reluctant to dissolve the Punjab Assembly as per PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s desire.

Elahi wanted that the provincial government should work for the next couple of months. Likewise, the establishment was also not in favour of the Punjab Assembly’s dissolution.