LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought assistance from the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) and the advocate general of Punjab on a petition seeking an order to restrain the caretaker government in the province from functioning.

Senior lawyer Aftab Ahmad Bajwa filed the petition pleading that the provincial caretaker government has lost its legitimacy as it failed to conduct a fair and free election in the province within the stipulated time of 90 days.

The lawyer contended that the Supreme Court had relaxed the date for the election in Punjab, but did not extend the tenure of the caretaker government.

He argued that the continuous working of caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his cabinet was unconstitutional.

The petitioner asked the court to declare the existence of the Punjab caretaker government and order the election commission to notify a new interim set up.

He urged the court to also issue a stay order against the caretaker government.

However, Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh observed that the court would not pass any injunctive order without hearing the point of view of the other side.

The judge issued notices to the law officers of the federal and provincial governments for assistance of the court on the matter and adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd, 2023