LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari has issued in detail reasons for rejecting 10 votes of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MPAs which led to the victory of Hamza Shehbaz in the provincial chief minister elections held on July 22 (Friday).
In the two-page written reasons, the deputy speaker referred to Supreme Court’s May 17 as well as ECP’s May 20 orders wherein 25 MPAs were de-seated by the latter on the directions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan.
“I have also considered the contents of directions of the party head of the PTI, which formed the basis of de-seating of 25 members and exclusion of their votes from the tally of vote count of April 16,” the deputy speaker said.
“Based on the judgment of the Supreme Court, various petitions were filed before the Lahore High Court. A five-member LHC bench decided the petitions vide order dated June 30 and directed to exclude the votes of 25 members who violated the directions and voted in favour of Hamza.
“Consequently, today’s election was held between Hamza and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, who were the contesting candidates in the elections previously held on April 16. As per the results in terms of the procedure laid down in the Second Schedule, Hamza polled 179 votes whereas Elahi received 186 votes.”
Deputy Speaker said that he received directions issued by Chaudhary Shujaat Hussian to PML-Q MPAs to vote in favour of Hamza.
“Considering the events, material, orders/judgments of the courts, I am of the opinion that the votes of members of the provincial assembly of the Punjab, belonging to the PML-Q, are in violation of the directions of the party head, therefore, these votes are liable to be excluded from the final count of the votes in view of the judgments of the Supreme Court, LHC and ECP,” Mazari said.
The deputy speaker also quoted a relevant part of the order passed by the ECP in this regard.
“Keeping in view the above, we are of the view that the casting of votes by the respondent in favour of opposing candidates is a serious issue and worst form of betraying the electorate and party’s policy. Therefore, we hold that the defection in the subject cases shall not depend upon strict proof of observations of pre-requisites as provided in Article 63A.”
Mazari said that the decision of the ECP to uphold the declaration was based on the violation of directions issued by Imran Khan and communicated to the members by PTI Secretary Asad Umar. The decision shows that directions could be issued by party head which was upheld by the ECP, the detailed ruling said.
