ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court on Wednesday declined a petition to hold early election for the position of Punjab chief minister while ruling that the process would take place on April 16 as originally planned.
The Punjab chief minister’s post fell vacant after Sardar Usman Buzdar stepped down while the country’s former prime minister Imran Khan was still facing a no-confidence resolution against him.
Subsequently, Khan nominated Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, his coalition partner from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), as his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s candidate.
The other contender for the CM’s post is Hamza Shehbaz Sharif who was “elected” by 199 provincial legislators at a symbolic session of the Punjab Assembly at a private hotel in Lahore last week.
Sharif had also filed a petition in the Lahore High Court for early election for the chief minister’s position since his party believed the process was being deliberately delayed.
“The prayer of the petitioner ... to shorten the date of Session, which is already fixed by the Deputy Speaker for 16.04.2022 to elect the Chief Minister is hereby declined,” said the court in its ruling.
The IHC verdict noted that the respondents’ counsels, including the advocate general of the province, did not display any reservation toward the idea of holding the chief minister’s election.
It ordered the deputy speaker of the Punjab assembly and other relevant authorities, including the provincial administration, to “act impartially, justly and fairly to ensure the supremacy of the Constitution.”
The court also instructed that no one must “hinder, obstruct or interfere” with any provincial assembly member who desired to participate in the session.
“The Secretary, Provincial Assembly is further directed to ensure the completion of renovation work of the Provincial Assembly before 11:00 p.m. of 15.04.2022 and should be made available for its use for the honorable members of the Provincial Assembly on 16.04.2022 in respectable manner,” the high court added.
The Punjab Assembly has 371 members. Any candidate wishing to be the next chief minister will have to secure at least 186 votes in the election.
While Hamza Shehbaz’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party has 165 seats in the provincial assembly, he claims to have the support of requisite number of lawmakers belonging to other political factions.
The PTI and PML-Q have 183 and 10 seats in the provincial legislature, respectively, though their dissident lawmakers may decide to favor Sharif during the electoral contest.
Lahore High Court rules elections for new Punjab chief minister be held April 16
https://arab.news/52w5a
Lahore High Court rules elections for new Punjab chief minister be held April 16
- The court dismissed Hamza Shehbaz’s petition seeking early election for the vacant post
- The winning candidate for CM’s post will have to secure 186 votes in the 371-member house
Putin calls Russia’s ties with Pakistan ‘mutually beneficial’
- The Russian President mentions the ties as Pakistan’s new envoy presents his credentials in Moscow
- Pakistan and Russia have strengthened relations in recent years, expanding cooperation in key sectors
ISLAMABAD: Russian President Vladimir Putin has described relations with Pakistan as “mutually beneficial,” according to a social media post by his country’s embassy in Pakistan on Friday, as he met newly appointed Pakistani ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi during a credentials ceremony in Moscow.
Pakistan and Russia have steadily strengthened bilateral ties in recent years while working to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy and connectivity.
“We maintain close cooperation with Pakistan, a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the largest regional organization in terms of economic, technological, and human potential,” Putin was quoted as saying in a post on X. “Russia
Pakistan relations are genuinely mutually beneficial.”
In recent years, Pakistan and Russia have pledged to deepen economic ties, explore barter trade and energy deals, and boost people-to-people contacts. High-level visits have also taken place between officials of both countries, highlighting interest in expanding cooperation in technology, agriculture and transport.
Last December, Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Russia and Pakistan were in talks on a potential oil-sector agreement.
Earlier, in May, Pakistan and Russia agreed to establish a steel mill in Karachi, aiming to boost bilateral ties and expand industrial collaboration.
The two countries are also working on the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline, a major infrastructure project aimed at transporting imported gas from Karachi to Punjab to help meet Pakistan’s energy needs.
In 2023, Pakistan and Russia also discussed a deal for the delivery of Russian crude to Pakistan, and talks have continued on broader energy partnerships.
