SC reinstates Hamza Shahbaz’s status as ‘interim CM Punjab’

Lahore: The Supreme Court on Saturday reinstated Hamza Shehbaz’s status as Chief Minister of Punjab after declaring the petition against the ruling of Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari as ‘maintainable’. 

As per Supreme Court’s order, “Hamza Shehbaz will once again be the interim Chief Minister of Punjab”--the status he held before July 1. 

Following the orders, Hamza Shahbaz has been barred from making transfers and postings, along with other powers being trimmed.

The court also directed him to work in accordance with the law and Constitution. 

However, the hearing of the case has been adjourned till July 25 (Monday), which will be conducted in the Supreme Court in Islamabad. 

The apex court was hearing Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervez Elahi's petition against Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari's ruling in the Punjab Chief Minister's election. 

The court conducted the proceedings via video link—owing to the rush in the courtroom. 

As per details, the decision to carry out the hearing via video link was made after the courtroom door was damaged due to a crowd of people tried to get through it.  

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, said that the deputy speaker did not pinpoint the paragraph of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the interpretation of Article 63(A) which he referred to while pronouncing his ruling.  

Earlier in the day, Hamza Shehbaz took oath as Punjab Chief Minister, to which, Bandial stated that the oath does not matter in front of the court and SC would see the matters in “light of the constitution”.

The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has summoned Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly, Dost Mazari at 2 pm today—directing him to bring all records— while hearing the case on the petition filed against his ruling regarding Chief Minister (CM) Punjab election.

A three-member bench heard Punjab Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s plea against the ruling given by Muhammad Mazari, who annulled 10 votes cast by PML-Q members. 

At the onset of the hearing, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked to bring him a written explanation of the ruling—ordering him to bring all the records of the election and defend himself before the court.

Barrister Ali Zafar informed the apex court that there were 370 members in the House, adding that “Pervaiz Elahi got 186 votes while Hamza secured 179 votes”.  

He further added, “Constitutionally, Elahi won the election, but the Deputy Speaker rejected 10 votes”. 

The hearing is being conducted at Supreme Court-Lahore Registry Saturday.

However, the hearing was adjourned till 2 pm.

It is pertinent to mention here that leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) challenged the decision of the Dost Mazari and filed an application in the Supreme Court Lahore Registry through Advocate Amir Saeed Ran last night.

Zafar also stressed that the deputy speaker “rejected the votes based on a letter” from party head Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. 

The apex court issued notices to Hamza Shehbaz, Dost Mazari, Punjab chief secretary, Advocate General of Punjab, and Attorney General of Punjab.