LAHORE:
Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Saturday the Supreme Court’s verdict on Punjab by-elections, saying CJP Umar Ata Bandial has “played a bridging role to promote democracy by accepting PTI’s option”.
The provincial assembly speaker said this while chairing a meeting regarding the upcoming by-polls.
General Secretary Punjab Senator Kamil Ali Agha, former provincial ministers Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, Mian Imran Masood as well as former MNAs Chaudhry Tahir Bashir Cheema and Shadab Jaffery were also present.
Cheering the apex court’s order to hold are-election for the office of chief minister of Punjab on July 22, Elahi predicted the CJP’s decision “will go a long way in enabling clean and transparent elections while preventing fraud”.
He went on to criticise the incumbent PML-N-led coalition government over its economic policies, lamenting that the skyrocketing inflation has made life difficult for the people.
“No one cares about the poor and the government has no policy to curb the rise in prices of petrol and other daily necessities,” he said.
The PML-Q speaker reiterated that his party would fully back the PTI candidates in the by-elections. “Insha-Allah, there will be a clear difference from our support, after which we will also win the July 22 elections Insha-Allah.”
People should use their right to vote to reject the “imported government”, Elahi added.
The Supreme Court had on Friday ruled that re-election for the Punjab chief minister’s slot will be held on July 22 after the rival parties — PML-N, PML-Q and PTI — reached consensus on the matter.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial issued the order on PTI’s plea challenging the Lahore High Court (LHC) order.
Both Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi appeared satisfied with the decision.
However, political pundits see a new chapter of legal complexities, further plunging the “teetering” Punjab administration into quagmire.