LHC seeks reply in Lahore mayor case

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court Wednesday issued a notice to Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan on an application seeking stay on his oath taking as mayor of Lahore till final decision on the petition challenging his candidature. 

The court asked him to file reply on March 31. The court issued the order on the application of PTI leader Zubair Niazi. Through Advocate Sheraz Zaka, the petitioner said he had already challenged candidature of Hassaan and the matter was still before the LHC for adjudication.

He said there was news of administering oath to Hassaan as mayor of Lahore in coming days. He said he had challenged his candidature before the LHC therefore it was the requirement of the law to decide the matter of his candidate before filling the post of mayor.

Zubair Niazi challenged the qualification of Hassaan, who was elected the chairman unopposed from a Lahore’s UC in the local government election held in Punjab.  He argued that the respondent (Hassaan) before being elected unopposed chairman had held different positions with several public sector departments including Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC).

He pointed out that Section 27 of Local Government Act 2013 says a person who had been held an office of a statutory body controlled by a provincial government was not eligible to contest election of local bodies before two years.

The counsel said the respondent resigned from the offices days before filing of nomination papers for LG polls. Plea rejected: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday refused to hear petition challenging the Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016.

Justice Shahid Waheed remarked that as the petition was related to Islamic injunctions and the LHC had no power to take up such matter. Under Article 203(d) of the Constitution, Federal Shariat Court is proper forum to take up such matter, the judge said.