Pakistan SC refuses plea to form full bench to hear Punjab CM election case

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday refused to form a full bench to hear a key case related to the contentious election of Punjab chief minister, saying it will have to hear more arguments before taking a decision on the issue.

The country's coalition government led by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif 's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had urged the apex court to constitute a full bench to hear petitions about the important case which involved the interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution -- if a lawmaker should follow the orders of party chief or the parliamentary before voting on vital issues.

A three-member apex court bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhter was hearing the main petition filed by Chaudhry Pevaiz Elahi, who was the candidate for the chief minister's slot.

They were among the five judges who ruled against the ruling of the then National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri's decision to dismiss the vote of no-confidence against the government led by

A three-member apex court bench was hearing the main petition filed by Chaudhry Pevaiz Elahi, who was the candidate for the chief minister’s slot

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in April.

Elahi secured 186 votes against 179 votes of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) candidate Hamza Shehbaz but lost after Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari rejected 10 votes of his Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) lawmakers.

Mazari refused to count the vote after party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain through a letter directed his party lawmakers to vote for Hamza, son of Prime Minister Sharif and PML-N president.

The Punjab province has been in turmoil since April which took a new turn on Friday when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supported candidate, Elahi, was not declared a winner.