LHC restores Ch Pervaiz Elahi as CM Punjab and his cabinet

 Ch Pervaiz Elahi gives undertaking not to dissolve Punjab Assembly 

The Lahore High Court (LHC) reinstated PML-Q leader Ch Parvez Elahi as the Punjab chief minister after he submitted an undertaking assuring the court that he would not dissolve the provincial assembly.

The five-member bench of LHC provided interim relief to CM Punjab on his plea against Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman’s order to de-notify him as CM Punjab. The Court issued notices to federal government, Attorney General, Advocate General Punjab and other respondents and directed them to submit a reply at the next hearing scheduled for January 11, 2023.

On Thursday night, the Punjab governor sprang into action and denotified Elahi as chief minister of the largest province in a bid to forestall ousted premier Imran Khan’s plan to dissolve the Punjab Assembly (PA).

In his order dated Dec 22, the governor said that since the chief minister had refrained from taking a vote of confidence at the appo­i­nted day and time, he ceased to hold the office. Rehman, however, asked Elahi to continue working as chief minister until his successor takes charge.

Subsequently, Elahi approached the court earlier today, saying the move was “unconstitutional, unlawful and of no legal effect”.

The hearing was put off for an hour after the court asked Elahi’s counsel, Barrister Ali Zafar, to seek an assurance from his client with regards to not dissolving the assembly.

When the hearing resumed Elahi, through his counsel, submitted an undertaking wherein he said he would not dissolve the provincial assembly until the next hearing.

“If me and my cabinet are reinstated, then I will not send the assembly dissolution summary to the governor till the next hearing,” the undertaking, which was read aloud by Zafar in the courtroom, said.

Subsequently, the court reinstated Elahi as the Punjab chief minister.

As the matter of fact, PTI will not be able to dissolve the Punjab Assembly today as announced earlier by PTI chairman Imran Khan. PTI will have to wait at least till January 11.  It is a legal victory for Ch Pervaiz Elahi and a setback for PTI. PML-N will also be relieved that Punjab Assembly will not dissolved until January 11. The five member bench will hear the main legal issues raised by the CM Punjab.

                                                                  Insight247.news