SC nullifies PA deputy speaker's ruling, declares Ch Pervaiz Elahi as Punjab CM

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The Supreme Court on Tuesday nullified the ruling of Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari, declaring Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi as chief minister of Punjab.

Announcing the 11-page short verdict, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial ordered Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz to relinquish the charge of his office.

The court ruled that Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi had 186 votes, while Hamza Shehbaz took 179 votes and he was not elected as the chief minister.

The court also dissolved the cabinet of Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz. It also ordered the Punjab governor to administer the oath to Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi at 11:30 today.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had reserved the verdict on the case pertaining to the ruling of the deputy speaker after the completion of the arguments.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the matter of the interpretation of the Article 63A had been resolved and there was no need to interpret it further. "There is no doubt that the role of the party leader is important. But the parliamentary leader issues directions for the voting," he observed.

Earlier, Irfan Qadir, counsel for the deputy speaker, told court that the ruling alliance had boycotted the three-member bench of the Supreme Court in protest against rejection of their plea for formation of the full court.

He said that his client had directed him not to become part of the court proceedings. "The ruling alliance has boycotted the court proceedings and we will file a review petition regarding the verdict about the full court," he declared.

PPP's counsel Farooq H Naik and Chaudhary Shujaat's counsel Salahuddin informed the court about the boycott.

Addressing Farooq H Naik, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the PPP is not the party in the case. "The people sitting on the right side have unilaterally boycotted the court proceedings. Thanks God, they have some grace left and sitting here to hear to the court proceedings," he added.

Justice Ejazul Ahsan remarked the court is ready to listen to them if there is some improvement.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the court cannot delay the matter as the matter pertains to the formation of the full court. "It was not such question that required the formation of the full court. There should be uniformity in the opinion of the judge. It is not a good example a judge changing his opinion. All parties should assist the court in the legal questions. Another way is that we should leave the bench," he remarked.

Justice Ejazul Ahsan said that the party leader gets the decision of the parliamentary party implemented. "The word of parliamentary leader in place of the parliamentary party was justice a mistake," he remarked.

Ali Zafar, counsel for Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi, said that the parliamentary party issues directions for the vote according to the constitution.