Pakistan
Punjab CM polls: SC orders holding runoff elections within two days
The election for Chief Minister-slot is likely not to be held today.
Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered a runoff election after two days, adding that the one getting a majority of votes will be the new Chief Minister of Punjab.
According to details, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and PML-Q petitions against the Lahore High Court’s decision to hold a recount of votes for the election of the Punjab chief minister has summoned Pervaiz Elahi and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif before its Lahore registry.
Both leaders appeared before the court for the proceedings.
The court resumed the hearing in the afternoon after earlier giving PTI and PML-Q counsels 30 minutes to prepare.
After the hearing resumed, Pervaiz Elahi indicated through his lawyer that he is ready to accept Hamza Shahbaz Sharif as chief minister until the re-election for the chief minister slot is held.
Elahi has also requested the court to reschedule the reelection until after the July 17 by-elections on 20 PA seats.
The court, first, proposed two options on the matter of the Chief Minister of Punjab. Either the Chief Minister of Punjab should be re-elected in two days or Hamza Shahbaz should remain the Chief Minister till July 17.
However, the court then ordered to hold a runoff election for the selection of the new Chief Minister of Punjab.