The Lahore High Court registrar has returned the intra-court plea submitted by the PTI and PML-Q challenging the court’s decision in which the LHC directed the Punjab governor to complete the oath-taking process of Chief Minister-elect Hamza Sharif, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The LHC registrar on Friday returned the intra-court appeal filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and PML-Q after terming it incomplete. The registrar objected that the necessary documents including stamp papers were not affixed with the appeal filed by PTI leader Sabteen Khan and other MPAs.
Sources said that the PTI lawyers took back their appeal after learning that it was incomplete.
However, it is expected that after removing objections, the appeal could again be filed later today. After acceptance of the intra-court appeal, the LHC chief justice would mark the plea and fix it for hearing.
In the intra-court appeal, Hamza Shehbaz, President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through their secretaries were made party to the case.
It has been stated in the appeal that the President and Governor enjoy indemnity under Article 248 and that the LHC ruling is against the spirit of constitution and law.
The appeal further says that giving timeframe for the swearing-in of the CM-elect, is a contempt to the offices of the President and Governor. The high court does not have the jurisdiction to act against either the President or Governor, it added.
The intra-court appeal beseeches the court to void the LHC single-judge bench decision regarding administration of the Punjab CM-elect swearing-in. It also pleads to halt implementation on the single-bench ruling.
On April 27, LHC Chief Justice Ameer Bhatti had ruled that Hamza's oath was being delayed on "one pretext or the other" and had directed Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema to ensure the completion of the process of administration of oath of Chief Minister Punjab, "either himself or through his nominee on or before April 28".
Reporter Malik Ashraf