Two petitions against premier, Punjab CM dismissed

LAHORE: Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court Wednesday dismissed as not maintainable a petition seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for their alleged corrupt practices. 

Earlier the judge on December 8 had reserved the decision on petition of a local resident Faisal Naseer. Petitioner’s counsel alleged that corruption was rampant in all government institutions.

He alleged that incompetent people had been appointed in different departments and even corrupt people were on the key posts in government departments. He said the premier and chief minister were responsible for this mess.

He also alleged that the corruption of government officials was dragging Pakistan towards doomsday. He further alleged that PM and CM were involved in corruption. He requested that both should be declared disqualified to hold any public office. 

Meanwhile, Justice Ayesha Malik of the Lahore High Court also rejected a petition filed on behalf of the PTI seeking disqualification of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for alleged misuse of power and violation of his oath and court orders. 

The judge dismissed the petition for being non-maintainable. PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhry moved the petition. Petitioner’s counsel former law minister Babar Awan said the chief minister misused his authority and allowed shifting his family’s sugar mills in violation of ban. He said the CM allegedly safeguarded his personal interest only and failed to keep his oath he took at the time of election to the provincial assembly. He was therefore disqualified in terms of criteria for a public office holder provided in Articles 62 & 63 of the Constitution.