Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Thursday ruled out following Governor Baligh-ur-Rehman’s orders for taking a vote of confidence and termed the directions “illegal”.
“I don’t accept the governor’s letter for the vote of confidence. If I take the vote of confidence, then it means that I am accepting the letter,” he told the media.
“The governor wants me to follow his illegal order, but I will not do it,” the chief minister said, as the ruling coalition in Punjab scrambles to ensure he maintains his seat.
Lahore High Court (LHC) reinstated Elahi as CM Punjab following his de-notification by the governor.
The court reinstated Elahi on December 23 and adjourned the next hearing till January 11. Although it restricted the CM from dissolving the assembly, the court said its order would not stop Elahi from taking a vote of confidence.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry had told media on January 4, that the ruling coalition would go for a vote of confidence before January 11, the day when an LHC bench resumes hearing into a petition by Pervaiz Elahi challenging the governor’s move.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Friday withdrew the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, terming it unnecessary and ineffective after his de-notification as Chief Minister by the Governor of Punjab.
PML-N leader Khalil Tahir Sandhu said , “The no-trust move became ineffective as the governor has denotified the CM.” He added that PML-N had withdrawn only the motion against the chief minister, and the ones against Speaker Sibtain Khan and the deputy speaker are still pending.
On the other hand, Elahi and other MPAs of the PML-N and PML-Q started arriving at the Punjab Assembly on Friday afternoon.
It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial assembly’s ongoing session will be held today following the speaker’s disposal on Tuesday of the governor’s order for Elahi to obtain a vote of confidence from the house, terming it “against the Constitution and Rules of Procedure”.
Elahi on Friday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging Governor Balighur Rehman’s de-notification from the chief minister’s office.
Governor Rehman de-notified Elahi in the late hours of Friday, citing a failure to take the vote of confidence from the provincial assembly as political turmoil in Pakistan’s largest province reached breaking point.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued orders to close markets and restaurants in Lahore by 10pm in order to control the worsening smog in the city.
The court gave out its ruling after a hearing on a petition seeking the court’s intervention to curb smog. According to the orders, the closure of markets and restaurants by 10pm will be enforced on weekdays.
On weekends, however, restaurants will be allowed to close at 11pm. Although it has been suggested that markets should remain closed on Sundays but the suggestion has been put off for now.
Regarding schools, the court said that schools that remained open on Fridays will be sealed and directed the education department to strictly implement its orders.
Last week, the Punjab Government ordered closure of schools in the provincial capital for three days a week— Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Pakistan’s biggest cities have ranked among the most polluted in the world for the past few weeks, with Lahore, the capital of Punjab, having topped the list the metropolises with the most polluted air several times in the last month.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has said that the law can not prosecute anyone on the basis of them sharing something they saw in their dream, reports Dawn.
The Honourable Court was hearing a case pertaining to a first information report (FIR) filed by the Saddar Police Station of Mianwali against a petitioner in accordance with Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The petition was declared invalid by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh. The complaint was filed by an ex-member of the Mianwali district council in August 2021. He said that in his dreams, the petitioner saw Allah and several of the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) companions as well as being able to fly.
“The complainant further alleged that the petitioner had made similar statements before a crowd where two prosecution witnesses were also present. He claimed that such propagation hurt the community’s religious feelings and was likely to incite violence,” the petition alleged.
A petitioner’s attorney claimed that the first information report (FIR) was politically motivated and dishonest. The only specific allegation against the petitioner was that he told a group of people about his dreams and claimed to have seen God and certain holy personages. “Such narration is not an offence under Section 295-A PPC,” the counsel added. “We find that the offence under section 295-A PPC is not made out”, said Justice Sheikh before discussing the merits of the case. “There is no evidence to suggest that the petitioner intended to offend or harm the religious sensibilities of the complainant or any other person with his statements,” the judge maintained.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has suspended Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s arrest warrant today (Friday) in an inquiry related to the purchase of plots in a housing society. The court also stopped the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) from arresting the minister and raiding his house.
According to Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister for Anti-Corruption, retired Brigadier Musaddiq Abbasi, Sanaullah had taken two plots as a “bribe” from an “illegal housing society” known as the Bismillah Housing Scheme in Chakwal district.
The court has sought case record from ACE by October 17.
On October 10, an ACE team said that they couldn’t arrest the minister because Islamabad police didnt cooperate with them.
Earlier, a judicial magistrate issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the federal minister over his non-appearance in an anti-corruption inquiry.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-seated 25 dissident members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in May. Out of these, five seats were reserved. Later, ECP notified PTI members on all five reserved seats while there will be by-elections on the rest of the 20 seats today (Sunday, July 17).
Why is it important?
The results of the by-elections will decide the fate of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz as the Supreme Court ordered a run-off poll for CM Punjab on July 22, five days after the by-polls are held. The magic number required to be the Punjab CM is 186.
Four Lahore Constituencies:
There are a total of four constituencies in Lahore.
1- PP-158
In PP-158, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Rana Ahsan Sharafat will contest against PTI’s Mian Akram Usman. The constituency falls under NA-129, where PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq is a Member of the National Assembly (MNA). PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s former close aide Aleem Khan won the constituency as a PTI candidate in 2018 but in these elections, he will not contest and will instead support the PML-N candidate.
In PP-167, PML-N’s Nazir Chohan will contest against PTI’s Shabbir Gujjar. In 2018, Chohan won the constituency as a PTI candidate. The constituency falls under NA-133, where PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz Malik is MNA.
Areas: Mainly Johar Town
3- PP-168
In PP-168, PML-N’s Malik Asad Ali Khokhar will be against PTI’s Malik Nawaz Awan. In the 2018 general elections, Khokhar won from this constituency. The constituency falls under NA-133 and NA-131, where PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz Malik and PML-N’s Saad Rafique are MNAs respectively.
Areas: Walton, Cavalry, Kot Lakhpat, Kainchi
4- PP-170
In PP-170, it will be PML-N’s Muhammad Amin Zulqarnain versus PTI’s Zaheer Abbas Khokhar. Previously, in 2018, Zulqarnain won this constituency as a PTI candidate. The constituency falls under NA-134, where PML-N’s Rana Mubashir Iqbal is MNA.
Areas: Wapda Town, Valencia, Township, and some rural areas of Lahore
Who will win Lahore?
Talking to The Current, senior journalist Majid Nizami said that the PTI claims that it will win three seats out of the four in Lahore in the upcoming Punjab by-polls. They think that the PML-N will win PP-168. Similarly, the PML-N also claims that it will win three out of four seats in Lahore. They think that PTI will win PP-170. According to Nizami, it is quite likely that both parties will win two seats each. From PML-N, Khokhar in PP-168 and Nazir Chohan from PP-167 are the strong candidates. From PTI, Mian Akram Usman from PP-158 and Zaheer Abbas Khokhar from PP-170 are likely to give a tough time to their competitors.
5- Multan: PP-217
In Multan, PML-N’s Salman Naeem is standing against former Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son Zain Hussain Qureshi. The constituency was previously won by Naeem in 2018 when he defeated Shah Mahmood and became a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA).
According to Majid Nizami, Naeem is likely to become MPA again this time.
6- Sahiwal: PP-202
Three candidates are contesting against each other in PP-202. From PML-N, there is Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial who is fighting against PTI’s Major Ghulam Sarwar and Independent Candidate Adil Saeed Gujjar. The constituency falls under NA-149, where PTI’s Murtaza Iqbal is MNA. PTI has a chance of winning this seat.
Areas: Chichawatni Tehsil
7- Bahawalnagar: PP-237
Under this constituency, there are two candidates. PML-N’s Fida Hussain Wattoo will fight PTI’s Syed Aftab Raza, who is contesting for the first time. It is pertinent to mention that Wattoo earlier won this constituency in 2018 as an independent candidate. He later joined the PTI. Despite the fact that in the past Wattoo was elected MPA thrice in a row, Majid Nizami says that there is going to be a tough competition between these two.
Areas: Minchinabad
8- Lodhran: PP-224
PTI’s Amir Iqbal Shah will contest against PML-N’s Zawar Hussain Warraich, who won the constituency in the 2018 general elections. Zawar is also considered close to Jahangir Tareen. This seat is likely to fall in the hands of the PTI.
Areas: Dunyapur
9- Lodhran: PP-228
PML-N’s Nazir Ahmed Baloch, PTI’s Captain Retired Izzat Javed Khan and Independent Candidate Pir Syed Rafi Bukhari are contesting. Baloch already won the constituency in 2018. The constituency falls under NA-161, where PTI’s Mian Muhammad Shafiq is MNA. Reports indicate that the PTI is in a tight position here. The tough competition will take place between Pir Syed and Baloch.
Areas: Rajapur
10- Rawalpindi: PP-7
PML-N’s Raja Sagheer Ahmed who won the constituency in the 2018 elections is going to fight against PTI’s Lt. Col. Shabbir Awan. The constituency falls under NA-57, where PTI’s Sadaqat Ali Abbasi is MNA. In this constituency, the PML-N is ahead of PTI.
Areas: Kahuta and Kallar Syedan
11- DG Khan: PP-288
The son of PTI MNA Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, Abdul Qadir Khosa, is contesting on the ticket of the PML-N. He will be against PTI’s Saif-ud-din-Khosa who is ahead in the race.
Areas: Tehsil DG Khan, Shah sadar din and Ghaus Abad.
12- Khushab: PP-83
In PP-83, PML-N’s Ameer Haider Sangha is going to lock horns with PTI’s Hasan Aslam Awan and Independent candidate Malik Asif Bha. In this constituency, there is going to be a three-way fight.
Areas: Jauharabad, Khushab city and Hadali
13- Layyah: PP-282
Tahir Randhawa, on a PML-N ticket, is now fighting against PTI candidate Qaiser Abbas Magsi. Magsi contested the 2008 and 2013 elections on a PML-N ticket and won as MPA. Despite this, Randhawa is ahead of Magsi.
Areas: Chowk Azam and Chaubara Tehsil
14- Muzaffargarh: PP-272
Syeda Zehra Bukhari will be against PTI’s Moazzam Khan Jatoi. Zehra is the wife of PTI MNA Basit Sultan Bukhari and she won in 2018 from this constituency. Meanwhile, Jatoi is a former minister and MNA. Syeda Zehra has a stronghold.
Areas: Shaher Sultan
15- Muzaffargarh: PP-273
PML-N’s Muhammad Sibtain Raza is going to be up against PTI’s Yasir Arfat Jatoi. Raza won the constituency as a PTI candidate in the previous elections. However, this time Jatoi is likely to become MPA.
Areas: Ali pur Tehsil
16- Bhakkar: PP-90
PML-N’s Saeed Akhbar Khan Nawani will fight against PTI’s Irfan Ullah Khan Niazi who just joined the party. Nawani won as an independent in 2018 and later joined the PTI. Here, Nawani is said to be ahead of Niazi.
Areas: Darya Khan Tehsil
17- Faisalabad: PP-97
The former Provincial Minister in Punjab, PML-N’s Ajmal Cheema is up against PTI’s Ali Afzal Sahi in Faisalabad. Although, Cheema won the constituency in 2018, Sahi is likely to win this seat. Sahi is the son of the former speaker of the Punjab Assembly Muhammad Afzal Sahi.
Areas: Chak Jhumra Tehsil
18- Jhang: PP-125
PML-N’s Faisal Hayat Jabboana will be competing against PTI’s Mian M. Azam Cheela and Independent candidate Iftikhar Ahmad Khan Baloch. Jabboana won as an independent in 2018 and later joined the PTI. PML-N candidate is likely to leave his contenders behind.
Areas: Athara Hazari Tehsil
19- Jhang: PP-127
In PP-127, PML-N Mehr Aslam Bharwana is going to fight against M. Nawaz Bhawarana. In 2018, Aslam Bharwana won as an independent candidate. There is going to be a tough competition between the two.
Areas: Jhang Tehsil
20- Sheikhupura: PP-140
PTI’s Khurram Virk is going to fight against Mian Khalid Mehmood who won the MPA seat from this constituency in 2018. The constituency falls under NA-121, where PML-N’s Javed Latif is MNA. However, Virk is likely to win this seat. It is pertinent to mention that according to Majid Nizami, a TLP candidate is also contesting against these two and has a pretty strong position.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) is considering the polls for the Punjab chief minister’s (CM) slot again, the court remarked on Tuesday while hearing the case challenging CM Hamza Shehbaz’s election, reports Geo News.
The court while hearing the arguments from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) counsel asked how a political crisis would be avoided if matters are taken back to the Punjab Assembly session on April 16 and polls are held again.
“In this case, the same presiding officer will hold the polls who was on duty during the April 16 polling,” the court said.
The court adjourned the hearing till 10am on June 29.
Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in his plea challenging Hamza’s election maintained that Hamza does not have the number of votes required to be elected as the chief minister in light of the Supreme Court’s order.
Hamza was elected as chief minister of Punjab in a session of the Punjab Assembly in complete ruckus on April 16, 2022.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday sought reply from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday (tomorrow) on a plea from Maryam Nawaz, seeking permission to travel abroad for performing Umrah.
According to ARY News, Justice Baqar Najafi, heading the LHC division bench, asked as to in which case name of Maryam Nawaz was added to no-fly list.
To this, the NAB prosecutor said that her name was added to no-fly list after the LHC approved her bail plea. An appeal was filed against the bail plea, however, it has yet to be fixed for hearing, he said, adding NAB has filed petition to cancel bail of Maryam Nawaz.
Marium on April 21, filed a plea before the Lahore High Court (LHC) so that she can travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah in Ramzan. She has also said that she wants to travel to London to visit her ailing father, Mian Nawaz Sharif.
“I want to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah but cannot because my passport is surrendered at the LHC,” reads the plea.
Maryam Nawaz said in her plea that she was arrested by NAB in 2019 in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case and later the LHC approved her bail plea and in return, she submitted her passport to the court.
The division bench of the LHC comprising Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Anwar-ul-Haq rescued themselves from the proceedings of the plea hearing today and asked Chief Justice LHC to fix the hearing before the bench that previously heard the matter, reports ARY News.
“The bench that granted bail to the petitioner should listen to the case,” the bench remarked after Advocate Ahsan Bhoon pleaded the case on behalf of Maryam Nawaz.
Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed Punjab Workers Welfare Board (PWWB) to grant maternity leave to a female teacher, Sobia Nazir who was previously refused maternity leave.
While hearing the petition, Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabbir said, “Article 35 of the Constitution provides that the state shall protect the marriage, the family, the mother, and the child.”
The petitioner, Sobia Nazir was hired for the position of senior Information Technology (IT) teacher on an internship/retainer basis at PWWB school, Worker Welfare School (Girls). The school is located in the Warbton, Nankana Sahib district. When she got pregnant, she applied for maternity leave with a full salary for 90 days. However, the board of PWWB rejected her application because she was not entitled to receive maternity leave on her current job contract’s terms and conditions.
Justice Shabbir said in the verdict that under Article 25 of the Pakistan Constitution, all citizens are equal before the law and they are entitled to receive equal protection from the law. There should be no discrimination on the basis of gender.
The judge also discussed Article 37 which directed the State to provide humane work conditions and ensure that women and children should not be employed in those jobs which are not suitable for their age or sex, and also make provisions for maternity benefits for women in employment.
The judge added, “Obviously the law does not compel any person to perform an act which is beyond his/her capacity and the same principle is also recognised by Islam.”
The Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed a plea regarding banning the popular online mobile game PUBG on Monday.
A resident of Lahore, Tanveer Sarwar, approached the LHC and filed a plea to ban the online mobile game after a violent murder in Lahore.
The petitioner had to appear on the day of the hearing, however, he did not reach the court.
As a result, the LHC discharged the application over the petitioner’s discontinuation of the case’s pursuit.
The petitioner claimed in the application that PUBG is creating intolerance in society and causing detrimental effects on young minds.
Last month, 18-year-old Ali Zain killed four members of his family in Lahore. An investigator found that the teenager was “addicted” to the online game PUBG.
According to the murderer, he went to sleep after the murder with a sense of accomplishment. The bodies of his four family members were discovered on January 19.
کاہنہ لاہور میں والدہ اور تین بچوں کے قتل کا معمہ حل, پب جی (PUBG) گیم کا عادی بیٹا ہی قاتل نکلا۔ ملزم نے گھر میں موجود والدہ کے پسٹل سے ماں، بہنوں اور بھائی کو قتل کیا. پنجاب پولیس کا خطرناک گیم (PUBG)پر پابندی لگانے کیلئے صوبائی و وفاقی حکومت سے سفارش کا فیصلہ۔ pic.twitter.com/akudvru59S
The Punjab Police had decided to request the federal and provincial governments to ban PUBG after this incident.
On July 1, 2021, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) temporarily suspended PUBG in the country after it received multiple complaints from different segments of society. However, the ban was lifted later.
