The Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed a plea challenging the appointment of Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi on Monday.
The court observed that the law had made the appointment and that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had the right to appoint the caretaker CM. However, the lawyer representing the federal government told the court that the ECP and the courts were present to address any misuse of power by the caretaker CM.
The petition was filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, through advocate Azhar Siddique, against Naqvi over his alleged affiliation with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the ECP and its members violated the constitutional and statutory requirements in appointing the Punjab caretaker CM and should be declared partial and incapable of holding a “free and fair election.”
The petition stated that Naqvi had been involved in the regime change against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and was actively working for the PDM.
It also alleged that Naqvi had been involved in a corruption case and had struck a plea bargain with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), making him a convicted person and disqualified for public office according to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).
The plea argued that under these circumstances, Naqvi was not eligible to be appointed as Punjab caretaker CM and requested the court to declare his appointment illegal and unlawful.
Despite the arguments presented by the petitioner, the LHC reserved its decision and later dismissed the plea challenging Naqvi’s appointment as Punjab caretaker CM.
