LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi says the role of Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari has become controversial and no justice can be expected from him.

Mr Elahi said Dost Mazari was attending PML-N meetings and had shown his partiality. By calling police in the assembly session, he said the deputy speaker had violated the House’s sanctity, making Pakistan a laughing stock all over the world.

He was speaking to a delegation comprising ex-MNA Ghulam Murtaza Maitla, party leaders and senior lawyers, who called on him and his son Moonis at the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday.

“The major democratic organisations of the world, including the Commonwealth, have expressed concern over the action of the deputy speaker,” he said.

He said the deputy speaker had conducted an illegal election for the chief minister’s office and added his statements in favour of the PML-N matched his actions.

Mr Elahi said the “imported rulers” had been exposed badly and added that their incompetence had set records of inflation. “People will decide against fake rulers in by-elections with their power of vote,” he asserted.

They also discussed overall political situation in the province and the court case related to the election of Punjab chief minister.

WAJAHAT HUSSAIN: Those who consider Lahore as their stronghold should now be ready to face people as Lahore now belongs to Imran Khan and PTI, former federal minister Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain and MNA Chaudhry Hussain Elahi said while addressing a meeting on preparations for by-polls in Punjab.

Wajahat claimed the PTI candidates would win by-elections in all districts, including Lahore, because these contests are being held on the seats already won by Imran Khan’s party. He said he and his allies would continue supporting Imran on the direction of Parvez.

He said the PTI and PML-Q coalition would end the PML-N’s monopoly in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2022