PTI wins back Punjab after SC overturns deputy speaker ruling

The power equation in Pakistan changed again yesterday as the Supreme Court overturned the controversial election of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s Hamza Shehbaz as chief minister of Punjab province, by striking down Deputy Speaker Dost Mohamed Mazari ruling last Friday that had unleashed a political storm. Mazari had overruled the 10 votes polled by Hamza’s rival, Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi, citing a directive from Elahi’s party leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussein of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) asking his party’s legislators to vote for Hamza. Despite intriguingly asking his MPs to plump for the rival (following an understanding Shujaat reportedly developed with the rival camp on the side), the directive did not reach either Elahi or those who voted for him. Elahi polled 186 votes against Hamza’s 179. In his bid to declare Hamza the victor, Mazari referenced a Supreme Court order.However, the apex court struck down the ruling, declaring Mazari’s “understanding and implementation” of Article 63A (1)(b) of the Constitution “incorrect and erroneous” as it announced the highly anticipated verdict on Elahi’s petition.The verdict is a major blow to the coalition government at the Centre led by Hamza’s father, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as their rival Elahi, who has the backing of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, will now take over the pole position.A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar announced the decision. A notification was later issued from the Punjab government’s cabinet wing declaring Elahi as Punjab’s chief minister.The top court, in its short order, also declared all the appointments made by Hamza “illegal” and told the members of his cabinet to vacate their offices.All of the advisers and assistants appointed by Hamza were also ordered to be relieved of their duties.The top court ordered for the issuance of Elahi’s notification as the new Punjab chief minister immediately, also instructing the governor to take his oath at 11:30pm. However, after the governor — who was appointed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — refused to follow suit, President Arif Ali took the oath from Elahi in the federal capital Islamabad.The change of government in Punjab after a protracted — and often acrimonious — political and legal battle shifts the balance of power back in favour of the PTI, which has made a strong comeback after trouncing the PML-N in its power bastion by winning 15 of the 20 seats in the by-elections held on July 17. Khan’s PTI is already in power in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan provinces and is on the heels of the Sharif-led government which is holding power in Islamabad with a strength of merely two seats.The PTI is feverishly pushing for swift general elections, which the PML-N and its allies had been hoping to thwart by retaining power in Punjab.