LHC Grills Petitioner Over "Irrelevant Plea" On Assembly Dissolution

LHC Grills Petitioner Over
Lahore High Court (LHC)'s Justice Shahid Karim on Tuesday appeared incensed at the filling of irrelevant petitions in courts. The LHC judge gave harsh remarks while hearing a plea seeking direction to restrain concerned quarters from going ahead with the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly.

As the proceedings commenced, the petitioner's counsel impleaded the court that the country's prevailing economic crises do not allow for elections, adding that dissolving assemblies may create further crises.

The counsel further informed the court that Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi had vowed not to dissolve the assembly, and had earlier said that it will complete its tenure.

Further, the petition stated that it would be unconstitutional for the assemblies to be dissolved merely on the direction of one person, alluding to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan.

Justice Shahid Karim said that the conditions under which the assemblies are being dissolved are very clear. He questioned how someone could be forbidden from exercising their constitutional right.

Justice Shahid Karim also commented that such petitions are a waste of the court's time and questioned why they are filed.

The court dismissed the plea as withdrawn after Justice Shahid Karim remarked that "the petitioner will not be left with even a single penny to go back home if the plea is not withdrawn". Upon hearing these remarks, the petitioner's counsel withdrew the petition.