LHC asks IGP, CS to help MPAs safely cast votes in CM election

LHC asks IGP, CS to help MPAs safely cast votes in CM election

Staff Reporter
July 21, 2022

LHC asks IGP, CS to help MPAs safely cast votes in CM election

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday ordered the Punjab chief secretary and the inspector general of police to ensure that all the members of the provincial assembly may cast their votes safely and freely in the election of the chief minister on July 22 (today).

Justice Aalia Neelum passed this order disposing of petitions of two MPAs of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) – Zainab Umair and Sibtain Khan.

Advocate Azhar Siddique, on behalf of the petitioners, said the only prayer of the petitioners was to the extent of directions to the police and the administration to facilitate the members of the assembly to safely cast their votes without any harassment.

He said the court in its April 15 order on a petition “Pakistan Muslim League verses Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari” had already issued similar directions.

The counsel alleged that the MPAs of the PTI faced harassment at the hands of Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and other state functionaries.

However, Additional Advocate General Nasir Chohan submitted a reply on behalf of the IGP saying neither any harassment had been caused to the petitioners or any other member of the assembly. The reply further said that no threat had been extended to the petitioners or any other MPA.

In light of the submissions made by the petitioners’ counsel and the law officer, Justice Neelum disposed of the petitions with directions to the chief secretary and the IGP to ensure that the MPAs from both sides cast their votes safely and as per their wishes in the election of the chief minister of Punjab.

The petitioner had contended that there were apprehensions that interior minister Rana Sanaullah Khan would use the state machinery to sabotage the election of the chief minister.

They said after the victory of PTI in the by-election, the government could harass the members of her party. They said there was a possibility that the government would resort to coercive measures to keep the PTI MPAs away from the polling for the chief minister.

The petitioners asked the court to order the authorities to ensure a fair and transparent election on July 22 and free participation of all candidates and members of the assembly in it.