Islamabad (Web Desk): The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday resumed hearing on petitions regarding re-election of Punjab chief minister on Thursday.
A three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, is holding the hearing.
The bench has resumed the hearing after the apex court rejected the coalition government’s request for the formation of a full court to hear the petition.
Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s counsel, Irfan Qadir, came on the rostrum where he stated that he was told to not be a part of the proceedings.
“I will not be a part of further proceedings”, he maintained.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Farooq Naek also appeared on the rostrum and stated that his party would also not appear in court.
Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Peervez Elahi had filed a petition against Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari’s decision in re-election of the provincial chief minister which led to Hamza Shehbaz’s victory.
On Friday, the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker had dismissed Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's (PML-Q) 10 votes after party head Chaudhry Shujaat asked them to vote in favour of Hamza, but they did not follow his instructions.
But the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pervez Elahi did not accept this and approached the SC.
At the previous hearing on Saturday, the court had allowed Hamza to remain "trustee" chief minister till Monday (today).
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz Sharif has filed a separate petition, seeking formation of a full court bench in a case against his election, a demand which had also been reiterated by leaders of government's coalition parties in press conference in Islamabad on Monday.
