The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership’s reaction to the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict ordering the recounting of votes for the election of the Punjab Chief Minister proved to be premature. PTI Chairperson Imran Khan vowed to challenge it in the Supreme Court moments after PTI leader Shireen Mazari celebrated the LHC decision as a ‘great victory for constitution and law’.
Reacting to the LHC verdict that was announced earlier today, former human rights minister Shireen Mazari said in a tweet that the PTI stood ‘vindicated’ as Hamza Shehbaz was no longer the Chief Minister of Punjab. Calling it a ‘great victory’, she said that one more plank of the US regime change conspiracy has fallen down.
Great victory for constitution & law today. PTI stands vindicated as Hamza Sharif no more CM – one more plank of US regime change conspiracy falls. Imported govt in Punjab gone! Bureaucracy/police shd be warned & stop their politicised actions & harassment of PTI workers & ldrs!
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) June 30, 2022
She added, “Bureaucracy [and] police should be warned, and stop their politicized actions & harassment of PTI workers and leaders!”
On the other hand, PTI Chairperson Imran Khan announced that the party would challenge the verdict in the apex court.
Earlier, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry seemed dubious about the verdict announced by the LHC, saying that it would further aggravate the political crisis in Punjab.
ہائیکورٹ کے فیصلے نے پنجاب میں سیاسی بحران میں مزید اضافہ کر دیا ہے، حمزہ کی حکومت برقرار نہیں رہی لیکن جو حل دیا گیا ہے اس کے نتیجے میں بحران ختم نہیں ہو گا ، اس فیصلے میں کئ خامیاں ہیں لیگل کمیٹی کی میٹنگ بلا لی ہےہائیکورٹ کے فیصلے میں خامیوں کو لے کرسپریم کورٹ سے رجوع کریں گے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) June 30, 2022
He said, “Hamza’s government has not survived but the crisis will not end as a result of the solution that has been reached,” further adding that there were many ‘flaws’ in this decision. He said that he has called a legal advisory meeting, and will be taking up the findings with the Supreme Court soon.
Earlier today, the LHC instructed in a short order issued after the hearing, that the votes for the election of the Punjab CM that was held on April 16 should be recounted, excluding the votes of the 25 PTI dissidents.
The court stated that if after the recount Hamza fails to secure the votes required to retain a majority, then as per Article 130(4), elections will be held again, unless another candidate has a clear majority.
