The Supreme Court of Pakistan accepted the petition of Pervez Elahi against the ruling of the Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly in the election of the Chief Minister of Punjab, invalidated the ruling of the Deputy Speaker and declared Pervez Elahi as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial gave a reserved verdict on Pervez Elahi’s petition.
The Supreme Court invalidated the notification of Hamza Shehbaz’s new cabinet while directing the Governor of Punjab to take the oath of Chief Minister from Parvez Elahi today at 11:30 PM.
The court declared in this brief decision containing 11 pages that there is no legal justification for the ruling of the Deputy Speaker, the Punjab Cabinet is also declared void.
The Supreme Court said in the verdict that Hamza Shehbaz and his cabinet should leave office immediately, Pervaiz Elahi should take oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab by 11:30 tonight.
The Supreme Court directed that if the governor does not take oath from Parvaiz Elahi, then the President will take oath from the Chief Minister of Punjab.
The Supreme Court in its decision also said that the court decision should be ensured immediately.
The court directed to send a copy of the verdict to the Punjab Governor, Deputy Speaker and Chief Secretary immediately.
In the brief judgment, it was said that all the appointments made by Hamza Shahbaz as Chief Minister are declared null and void.
It should be noted that the court gave 5:45 time to pronounce the reserved judgment on Parvez Elahi’s request, but after the delay, the time was given again to 7:30.
However, it was later delayed further and the reserved verdict was delivered at 9 pm.
A 3-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard the petition, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar were also included in the bench.
During today’s hearing, the Chief Justice asked the lawyer Ali Zafar to assist on the legal questions or else we will be separated from this bench. Friends who know me know that I treat my work as worship.
