LAHORE: ‘Disgruntled’ PML-N leader and former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan may take oath in the Punjab Assembly in its ongoing session amid the government’s plan to bring an ordinance cancelling membership of the lawmakers who had not taken oath after winning the election within the required period.

A source in PML-N told Dawn that Mr Nisar might take oath on Monday.

“There are chances that he may meet PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif at his residence here [same day] as well,” he said.

Nisar had contested the 2018 general elections from two NA and as many provincial seats, losing all but from the PA-10 constituency.

He has, however, not taken his oath — a development that has also been challenged in the high court.

A petition was filed in the court pleading to direct the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to de-notify Nisar for his failure to take oath, and also order the federal and Punjab governments to amend the relevant laws and introduce a time frame for lawmakers-elect to take their oath.

The petitioner said that Nisar’s decision to not take his oath was a violation of the law of people’s representation.

Nisar who was once a close friend of deposed premier Nawaz Sharif had virtually said goodbye to the PML-N since his relations with him (Nawaz) strained in 2017 over different matters.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2021