LAHORE, July 11: The return of provincial law minister Raja Muhammad Basharat to the Punjab Assembly was challenged in the Lahore High Court on Friday.

Petitioner Syed Aqeel Abbas Shah, claiming to be a registered voter of PP-110 (Gujrat), alleged that despite losing the last general elections Raja Basharat was appointed adviser to the chief minister on Jan 3, 2003. However, during the by-elections held in PP-110, after that seat fell vacant, he got elected to the Punjab Assembly on Jan 15, 2003.

According to the petitioner, the provincial law minister was not eligible to contest by-elections as, at the time of elections, he was already holding a public office. Under Section 99 of the Representation of People’s Act, 1976, no person could be elected to an assembly if, at the time of elections, he held any public office.

He further alleged that being an adviser to the chief minister, the respondent had misused the state machinery to win elections and his victory was void.

The court was requested to declare the results of PP-110 by-polls as void and restrain the provincial law minister from working till the disposal of this petition.