LAHORE: Jan 11, 2023: Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PMLQ) are fighting on two fronts to save their rule in Punjab. One, the ruling alliance in Punjab is facing tough legal battle and second it is resisting hostile opposition whose number in the house is intact. Seeing some serious fallout of the case currently being heard by the Lahore High Court (LHC) and mounting pressure in the house from opposition , PTI chairman, Imran Khan and chief minister Punjab, Chauhary Pervez Elahi, seem in hot waters.
On Wednesday, both had a detailed consultation at Zaman Park residence of Imran Khan and brain stormed possible outcome of court order and future of their alliance in coming days.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the court asked hard questions from Ali Zafar advocate, counsel for Chaudhary Pervez Elahi, in the case of suspension of Governor Punjab’s order of December 23 last year wherein he had asked to the Chief minister Punjab to take vote of confidence from the house to prove his majority.
A 5-member bench of LHC is hearing the case. The court asked to the counsel of Chaudhary Pervez Elahi that if he wanted from the court a decision in line with the law and constitution of the court should fix a date for Chaudhary Pervez Ealhi to take vote of confidence to prove his majority. The judge observed that the Governor had authority to fix date and ask the chief minister to take vote of confidence to prove that he enjoys the confidence of the majority of the house.
The counsel for Chaudhary Pervez Elahi repeated submitted before the court that his client had bagged 189 votes to become a chief minister of the Punjab. He argued that the Governor’s overstepped his authority by issuing an order to the chief minister asking him to take vote of confidence at a short notice. The counsel for Chauhdary Pervez Ealhi argued that the opposition should go for its original plan of no confidence against his client.
He further argued that the chief minister can not be held responsible for any act of the speaker.
The court extended suspension of the Governor’s order for a day and adjourned the hearing in the case till tomorrow—January 12.