Hamza Shahbaz’s election as Punjab CM was declared unacceptable.
Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz claims that the Supreme Court’s interpretation of Article 63(A) does not apply to his election to the position of chief minister.
The statement accompanied Hamza’s 16-page written response to the petitions challenging his election as the province’s chief minister, which he submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC).
“The election for Punjab Chief Minister was held in accordance with the high court’s orders and in accordance with the law and the Constitution,” Hamza stated in his response, adding that the interpretation of Article 63(A) does not apply to the polls because the apex court’s decision came later.
The PML-N leader urged the court to dismiss the petitions challenging the CM’s appointment.
In his response, Hamza maintained that the former Punjab governor’s investigation into the CM’s election was “illegal.” The Punjab Assembly secretary also lacked the authority to conduct an investigation into the election.
The LHC fined Hamza Shahbaz and the Punjab government Rs100,000 each on May 25 for failing to respond to the petitions.
Hamza Shahbaz submitted his reply and Rs100,000 as a fine in accordance with court orders.
The advocate-general informed the court at the start of today’s hearing that the Punjab government had submitted its reply in the case.
The counsel for the Punjab government pleaded with the court not to make the fine part of the record because it is a matter of the officers’ job. The court granted his request at this point.
