LAHORE: A five-member larger bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) headed by Justice Aziz Sheikh on Friday suspended Governor Punjab Engineer Mian Muhammad Balighur Rehman’s notification of denotifying Chaudhry Parvez Elahi as Punjab Chief Minister.

Senator Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, CM Elahi’s counsel, submitted the undertaking duly signed by Parvez Elahi stating he would not dissolve Punjab Assembly until he obtained a vote of confidence from the House.

Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman’s lawyer argued that the governor would take his notification regarding removal of Elahi from holding the CM office back provided that the court bound the CM not to dissolve the assembly. Justice Asim Hafeez remarked that the Article 130 of the Constitution of Pakistan bars the court from halting the CM to dissolve the assembly after the court conceded to the governor’s offer. “You must submit your undertaking in writing as we have to find a common ground for both parties”, he added. The court issued notices to the governor, the Attorney General, and others, and adjourned the hearing till Jan 11.

Earlier, at the outset of hearing Pervez Elahi’s plea against Balighur Rehman’s order of his denotification as the chief minister, the court asked the PTI to submit an undertaking that it would defer the assembly dissolution till the CM obtained a vote of confidence.

Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh inquired whether the PTI would dissolve the assembly if the court annulled governor’s notification removing Pervez Elahi from the office. “Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo’s case is a precedent,” he added.

While seeking time from the court to submit undertaking, the lawyer representing the CM argued that if the court reinstated Parvez Elahi as the CM, it must order the PTI to halt assembly dissolution.

The judge remarked that how the court could issue such an order, adding the court could consider denying Parvez Elahi the relief to function as the acting CM. The court, however, gave an hour deadline for submission of the undertaking.

It merits mention that the Lahore High Court (LHC) formed a larger bench to hear Parvez Elahi’s plea against his denotification as Punjab chief minister by the Punjab governor. After recusal by Justice Farooq Haider, Justice Asim Hafeez was included in the larger bench. Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh heads the bench that comprises Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, Justice Chauhdry Muhammad Iqbal and Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabbir.

Parvez Elahi, in his petition, argued that the governor had not written any letter to the chief minister, asking him to obtain a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly. It added that the governor was not authorised to summon a session when a current session was underway. A no-confidence motion was already submitted against the chief minister in the Punjab Assembly, it said, adding that Governor Punjab Engineer Mian Muhammad Balighur Rehman had neglected the Constitution and just followed advice of his lawyers.

LAHORE: An accountability court in Lahore on Friday granted until January 7 interim pre-arrest bail to Suleman Shehbaz Sharif, son of the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in two cases of money laundering and accumulating assets beyond known sources of income.

Suleman Shehbaz, who returned to Pakistan earlier this month after four years in London in self-imposed exile, is a suspect in an Rs16 billion money laundering case registered with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has accused him of being in possession of assets beyond his declared sources of income. He was declared a proclaimed offender in both investigations. Prior to his return, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained the two agencies from arresting him, paving way for his safe return.

On Friday, accountability judge Raja Qamauz Zaman approved the request of Suleman Shehbaz against surety bonds worth Rs500,000. He also barred NAB from arresting him in the case. In his petition, filed the petition through Muhammad Amjad Parvez Advocate, Suleman Shehbaz argued he was booked in the case without any evidence. He also insisted he was declared proclaimed offender without any prior information, claiming he did not receive any notice from the court.

He also said legal formalities required to declare a suspect a proclaimed offender was not fulfilled in his case. Therefore, he said he be granted interim bail in the case. Since 2018, Suleman Shahbaz had been residing in the British capital with his family apparently to escape multiple corruption and financial embezzlement investigations launched against him by the dirty money watchdog ahead of that year’s general elections.

Lahore: Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), also known as Central Business District (CBD Punjab), has planned to build a Rainwater Harvesting Tank at Saint Marry Park Lahore.

This initiative is a valuable addition to the authority’s existing project of CBD Punjab Boulevard and Kalma Chowk Underpass Remodeling.

During a briefing session about the project Executive Director Technical PCBDDA, Riaz Hussain said, “The existing water storage tank at Kalma Chowk Underpass, is insufficient for catering an additional estimated 14 cusec rainwater from the two new barrels.

The authority has planned to build a storage tank with a capacity of storing 300,000 gallons of water at Saint Marry Park, Lahore. This water will be filtered and reused in various ways, especially for irrigation of parks and horticulture”.

He further added that the rainwater storage tank will have a huge positive impact on the environment as it will control water wastage, soil erosion, water pollution and will reduce inherent flooding issues.

The water storage tank will give an adequate supply of water in case of any emergency and will be a major source of regaining groundwater level.

CBD Punjab has already acquired the NOC for the construction of the water storage tank from the Parks And Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore, costing an amount of Rs 30.8 Million. According to the NOC, PHA will build new green belts after the completion of CBD Punjab Boulevard and Kalma Chowk Underpass Remodeling. Rainwater Harvesting Storage Tank follows CBD Punjab’s eco-friendly initiatives as the authority has a progressive strategy to save the environment and make Punjab clean and green.

Karachi: First round of the 12th Engro SGA President Cup 2022 was played on Friday at Defence Authority Golf Club. Saim Shazli and Yashal Shah both from KGC are leading In the main Amateurs Category with a joint score of 70, two under par. M A Manan, Vivek Anand and Arsalan Mughal are following the duo with 74, two over par.

In the Veterans 75 years and above, Col Shahid Mahboob from DHA and Group Captain Aftab A Khan from KGC are at top with joint score of 41. Dr. Zubair Mirza is at third in this category on first day.

Major Rizwan Farooq of DHA Club is leading in Veterans 70-75 years category, with Brig Naveed Nasar following him.

In the Juniors under 14 category, Waleed Bilal from KGC is leading on first day with 85, 13 over par. Nyle Aurangzeb is following him with 87, 15 over par.

The 54 holes tournament will be played for three days, following the rules and regulations of Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF). Final round will be played on ha decide the Winner for this year. The greens at DHA ha Karachi’s weather is suitable for the play.

President Sindh Golf Association – Khurram Khan said, “Golf is helpful in maintaining both physical and mental fitness. It changes the way you think and helps in focussing. On behalf of SGA, I would like to welcome all participants from different areas of Pakistan in this championship.”

LAHORE: PML-N has withdrawn no trust motion against Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

PML-N chief Whipp in Punjab Assembly (PA) Khalil Tahir Sindhu and others filed application with their own signatures with secretary assembly for withdrawing their no trust motion.

It has been taken plea in the application that no trust motion was to be tabled in Punjab Assembly session to be held under the speaker.

Pervez Elahi remains no more CM following the issuance of notification by the governor on December 22. Therefore, there is no need to take any action on no confidence motion against CM.

LAHORE: Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has challenged governor Punjab Balighur Rehman order to denotify him as CM Punjab in Lahore High Court (LHC).

The court has constituted a larger bench to hear the petition.

A 9-page petition has been filed by Chaudhry Pervez Elahi in LHC making governor, speaker Punjab Assembly (PA) Sibtain Khan, government of Punjab and chief secretary respondents.

The petitioner has taken plea in the petition that governor has not written any letter to Chief Minister (CM) Punjab to seek vote of confidence. The letter was written to speaker PA and not CM.

It was further pleaded that governor cannot summon second session of assembly when the current session was in place. Governor is not authorized to denotify CM unconstitutionally.

Petition has been filed by Chaudhry Pervez Elahi under article 199 of the constitution wherein it has been stated governor Punjab misinterpreted sub secition-7 of article-130 of the constitution .Governor Punjab denotified CM Punjab by misusing his powers.

According to petition governor has no authority to appoint CM , therefore, he has no authority to remove CM. Governor removed CM illegally due to his dispute with the speaker PA. How the CM can obtain vote of confidence unless speaker summons session for vote of confidence.

It has been requested in the petition the court should nullify the notification of governor Punjab.

The petition has been filed through Aamir Saeed Ran counsel for Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

On the lawyers plea Chief Justice (CJ) LHC has constituted a larger bench under Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh. The other members of the bench are Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal, justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, justice Farooq Haider and Justice Muzammil Akhtar Shabbir.