LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered Governor Punjab Omar Sarfaraz Cheema to administer oath of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz tomorrow (Thursday) or to nominate someone for the purpose.

LHC has ruled on the petition of Hamza Shehbaz to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Chief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Muhammad Amir Bhatti delivered a safe verdict on the petition.

“It is suggested / advised / proposed that Governor shall ensure the completion of the process of administration of oath of Chief Minister Punjab, either himself or through his nominee, in terms of Article 255 of the Constitution, on or before 28.04.2022, ” read the short order.

The court said that President Arif Alvi should partake in the oath administration under the constitution-saying that the province has been running without CM for nearly 25 days the oath of the newly elected Chief Minister Punjab is being delayed on one pretext or the other.

Lahore High Court declared the non-swearing in of Hamza Shehbaz undemocratic and unconstitutional by saying that Governor Punjab has been violating democratic traditions.

PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz was elected as Punjab’s CM on April 16 by taking 197 votes to become 21st CM of Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan.

His oath taking was deferred twice despite the LHC’s directives for not delaying the matter.

Earlier, Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema refused to administer the oath to Hamza Shehbaz maintaining that the Punjab Assembly secretary’s report, the LHC’s instructions, and “the facts presented” to him had raised doubts about the election of Shehbaz as the CM.