Pakistan: Contempt plea filed against PM Shehbaz

Islamabad, Mar 26: A contempt of court petition was filed in the Supreme Court against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and others for violating its order on holding elections in Punjab, media news reports said on Sunday.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday announced the postponement of the upcoming elections in Punjab, initially scheduled to be held on April 30.
The government welcomed the electoral body’s decision, however, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has vehemently rejected it and challenged it in the apex court, Geo news reports.
Advocate G M Chaudhry filed a petition in the top court under Article 204 of the Constitution.
The petitioner made the prime minister, CEC, ECP members, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and chief secretary respondents.
He submitted that the respondents have violated the apex court order of March 1, 2023, which amounts to contempt of the apex court in terms of Article 204 of the Constitution, according to media reports.
He further submitted that the respondent chief election commissioner, along with other four ECP members, issued an order dated March 22, 2023, pointing out different reasons and situations which are clear descriptions that all the respondents have miserably failed to perform their constitutional obligations, functions and duties.
“The respondents are directly contemner due to non-compliance of the said order of the apex court passed on March 1, 2023, in suo motu case”, the petitioner submitted.
(UNI)