ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday moved Supreme Court (SC) against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to appoint opposition nominee Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab.
The party also filed another petition in the apex court, seeking removal of Raja Riaz as the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly.
The ECP on Jan 22 appointed Mohsin Naqvi as the caretaker Punjab Chief Minister after the parliamentary committee failed to reach a consensus. The petition was filed by PTI Secretary General Asad Umar in the apex court.
The petitioner pleaded with the court to declare Naqvi’s appointment “null and void” and stop him from working as caretaker Punjab chief minister.
The petitioner also challenged the appointment of ECP members Babar Bharwana and Ikramullah in top court.
The matter of the appointment of the caretaker Punjab CM reached the election commission after the parliamentary committee failed to reach a consensus.
The PTI-PML-Q alliance had suggested the names of Naveed Akram Cheema, Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, Nasir Khosa and Naseer Khan as their nominee for the caretaker Punjab CM whereas, the opposition had picked the names of Mohsin Naqvi and Ahad Cheema.
Following the nomination of Naqvi for the slot, Imran Khan slammed the commission and tweeted, “PML-N has history of selecting their own umpires but it’s incredible how ECP has selected a sworn enemy of PTI as Caretaker CM Punjab – a post meant for a non-partisan person.”
“Naqvi also made a voluntary return deal with NAB [National Accountability Bureau]. SC [Supreme Court] in suo moto case no 17/2016 declared that in a case of voluntary return a person cannot hold any public office at federal or provincial level nor in any state organisation.”
Raja Riaz’s appointment as NA opposition leader challenged
IN another petition, the PTI on Friday approached the Supreme Court for the removal of Raja Riaz as the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly.
The petition stated that Raja Riaz was appointed opposition leader without the consultation of the PTI. He was made the opposition leader in the collusion with the incumbent government, bypassing the rules and regulations.
Dissident Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MNA Raja Riaz was appointed as opposition leader in National Assembly with the support of 16 lawmakers in May this year after 125 PTI MNAs resigned from their assembly.
MNA Riaz joined the race for the opposition leader’s slot along with GDA MNA Ghous Bakhsh Mahar, following the withdrawal of PML-Q MNA Moonis Elahi.
The dissident PTI MNA had submitted an application signed by 17 lawmakers in the National Assembly secretariat for his nomination as the opposition leader. The deputy speaker sought names from the aspiring candidates for the opposition leader and the one who would have the support of the majority of opposition lawmakers would be nominated for the slot.
