The appointment of Punjab's Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi has been challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC).
The petition was filed by former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed through Advocate Azhar Siddique.
He contended that due process bad not been adopted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the appointment and the notification should be set aside.
The petitioner implored the court that since the ECP and its members had allegedly violated the constitutional and statutory requirements regarding the appointment, they should be censored and declared incapable to hold free and fair elections.
He claimed that the name of Naqvi had been put forth by the government "on account of his close association with current ruling elite, particularly Asif Ali Zardari and the Sharif family and his political enmity against the opposition".
He alleged that the caretaker CM had been involved in removal of the PTI government.
The petitioner also accused the caretaker CM of having been involved in a corruption case initiated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), where he allegedly struck a plea bargain for voluntary return.
According to Section 15 of the National Accountability Ordinance, any accused person who has availed the benefit of the section related to plea bargain should be deemed to have been convicted and stand disqualified for public office.
The petitioner requested the court that the appointment of Naqvi as Caretaker Chief Minister be declared as illegal.
He also requested the court that the caretaker CM be restrained from performing any function of the office till the decision on the petition.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2023.
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