LAHORE : The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday announced verdict in Hamza Sharif’s oath- taking case and ordered to governor Punjab , Umar Sarfraz Cheema, to either administer the oath of the chief minister Punjab elect , Hamza Shahbaz Sharif , himself or appoint his representative for the purpose..
The LHC chief justice, Ameer Bhatti, announced the judgement in the case here. The LHC CJ noted that the oath- taking from the chief minister elect is a constitutional obligation of the governor Punjab and he should fullfil his duty and take oath from chief minister elect by tomorrow (April 28)
Hamza Shahbaz had won the vote in election for the chief minister Punjab on April 19 last, but governor Punjab, Umar Sarfraz Cheema , refused to administrate his oath on political ground. The governor’s denial from taking oath from the chief minister- elect had thrown the province in to a constitutional crisis.
Seeing inordinate delay in oath taking, Hamza Shahbaz had moved the LHC for remedy . The court upheld Hamza Shahbaz Sharif’s argument and directed to the president Dr Arif Alvi to appoint his nominee to administer oath from chief minister- elect. Despite clear direction of the LHC , the president connived with governor Punjab to defy the court orders. President – governor Punjab nexus had come to play extremely dangerous game . President Dr Arif Alvi instead upholding the constitution of the country went other way around. He encouraged governor Punjab to use delaying tactics and not to administer the oath from chief minister elect. Dr Arif Alvi, who preferred to be loyal to his party rather than protecting and upholding the constitution, is going for everything that can add to the on-going constitutional crisis in the country.
Now the president and governor Punjab should stop going in there own style and obey the court orders to avoid more undermining of the constitution .
The Pakistan Tehreek- e – Insaf (PTI) leadership should realize the sensitivity involved in the matter and stop directing it’s office bearers who are holding constitutional office to keep misusing their position and rather go by the law and constitution of the country.
