SC Registrar returns Sheikh Rashid’s petition challenging CM Punjab’s appointment

• Supreme Court Registrar Office returned Sheikh Rashid’s petition
• It raised a number of objections including using scandalous language
• It said the petitioner had not approached the appropriate forum

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan Registrar Office has returned Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s petition against the appointment of Mohsin Raza Naqvi as caretaker Chief Minister (CM) Punjab.

The Registrar’s Office has raised a number of objections including scandalous language used in the petition. The apex court Registrar’s Office in its objections stated that the petitioner had not highlighted what matters of public importance were involved.

The top court Registrar’s Office also objected that the petitioner had not approached the appropriate forum available under the law besides not providing any justification for not doing so. The Office objected that the Chief Minister could not be made a party under Article 248 of the Constitution.

The former interior minister had filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the appointment of Mohsin Raza Naqvi as the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab. The petition stated that the appointment was in sheer abuse of the process of the Constitution.

Earlier Supreme Court of Pakistan returned an application filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenging the appointment of Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi.

Supreme Court Registrar Office returned the petition by PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar with objections. The apex court registrar said no matter of fundamental rights or public importance has been raised by the petitioner.

It also objected that the petitioner has not approached the relevant forum before filing the plea. Another objection raised was that Asad Umar did not give any proof of being the Secretary General of the party.

Furthermore, the registrar said the chief minister cannot be paid a respondent under Article 248 of the Constitution. It also raised objections over the usage of inappropriate language in preparation of the application.

The PTI had challenged in the Supreme Court the appointment of Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The party submitted a petition to restrain him from performing any function regarding the elections and appointing cabinet members.

The PTI argued that Naqvi’s appointment by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was “in direct violation of the provisions of the Constitution read with the provisions of the Elections Act 2017 and the Election Rules 2017”.

Regarding Naqvi’s appointment, the petition argued that an “individual without any experience of political, constitutional, bureaucratic set-ups has been selected/appointed”.

It stated that Naqvi had no political, administrative and legal experience in ensuring the rule of law and working of governments. It added the ECP decision was in negation to the mandate of the Constitution.

It claimed that the electoral body in “collusion” with Naqvi had “caused massive transfers and postings and have brought officials who are inimical to the presence of PTl”.

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