Pakistan SC junks deputy speaker's decision, names Elahi Punjab CM

Islamabad, July 26

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Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down Punjab Assembly deputy speaker’s controversial decision to reject 10 votes during the chief minister’s election as unconstitutional and named PML-Q leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi as the new executive head of the politically crucial province, in a major setback to PM Shehbaz Sharif and the ruling coalition.

Elahi, who lost the election held on Friday despite getting a majority vote, challenged the ruling of deputy speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari who handed victory to Hamza, son of PM Sharif. Elahi was supported by ousted PM Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

A three-member Bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar ruled that 76-year-old Elahi is the new CM of Punjab province, in a boost to Imran Khan’s political fortune.