LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday summoned the chief secretary and the secretary of the Punjab Assembly in a petition of the inspector general of police (IGP) challenging a show-cause notice issued by the latter in wake of violence took place in a session held to elect a new chief minister.

During the hearing, IGP counsel Shamimur Rehman Malik argued that the deputy speaker was bound to maintain the decorum of the house and in the event of any untoward situation, he could ask the law enforcement agencies for assistance to disperse the contingents.

He said since actions performed by the petitioner, in the exercise of his routine duties, were immune from being challenged before any forum under the law.

The counsel said a report submitted by Pildat, an NGO for electoral reforms, confirmed that the deputy speaker had asked the IGP to provide certain force after a serious law and order situation in the assembly.

He stated that the IGP managed the security in the assembly’s session on the directions of the high court. He said the deputy speaker had also issued instructions to the police to ensure the security of the assembly.

He asked the court to set aside the show cause notice issued by the secretary assembly being unlawful and unconstitutional.

Advocate Azhar Siddiqui, who appeared on behalf of the assembly’s secretary, argued that the IGP was bound to respond to the show cause as it was issued on the recommendation of the privileges committee of the assembly.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan adjourned the hearing till Thursday and directed the chief secretary and the assembly’s secretary to personally appear before the court.

PTI: The LHC sought a reply from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on a petition of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) seeking a speedy process for the disqualification of its dissident MPAs who voted against the party policy in the election of a new chief minister of Punjab.

PTI parliamentary leader Sibtain Khan filed the petition.

Advocate Amir Saeed Rawn, on behalf of the petitioner, argued that the party sent a reference to the ECP for the disqualification of its 26 MPAs for committing defection in the election of the chief minister. He said the ECP had been delaying the process for the disqualification of the dissident MPAs.

The counsel asked the court to order the ECP to expedite the disqualification process and also suspend the membership of the respondent MPAs till a final decision of the petition. Justice Shujaat Ali Khan issued a notice to the ECP for a reply by April 29.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2022