Parvez Elahi approaches LHC against Punjab Governor’s denotification order

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Friday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against an order issued by Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman to de-notify him as the chief minister.
In a petition, Elahi took the stand that it is unconstitutional to de-notify the Chief Minister and the provincial cabinet.
It informs the court that the Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan was asked to summon a session for vote of confidence. It added that the speaker did not summon the session as one was already underway.
“No action can be taken against any chief minister over speaker’s actions,” the petition reads.
Elahi demanded the court to declare Governor’s notification null and void.
Earlier, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman has denotified chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi as he failed to take vote of confidence from the provincial assembly; it emerged in the wee hours of Friday.
“Since CM has refrained from obtaining vote of confidence at the appointed day and time therefore he ceases to hold office. Orders issued this evening,” Rehman wrote on his Twitter handle, sharing a copy of the notification.
In the notification, the governor mentioned that despite an order issued for the CM to take a vote of confidence, he did not follow suit. Moreover, Elahi did not take the vote after 24 hours, the notification said.
“I am satisfied that he does not command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Punjab Assembly and therefore ceases to hold his office with immediate effect,” the notification read.
According to the order, Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman had directed Parvez Elahi to take a vote of confidence on December 19.
The notification also mentioned that the provincial cabinet stands dissolved and the chief minister will continue performing his duties until a new person is elected to office.