MULTAN, Feb 8: The Lahore High Court Multan bench has summoned the Punjab advocate-general and standing counsel for Pakistan for Feb 14 for hearing of a petition filed by the Dera district naib nazim against his suspension.

In his petition filed through Advocate Rafique Rijwana, Dost Muhammad Khosa challenged his suspension as Dera naib nazim on the plea that he was being politically victimised because he was a son of PML-N leader Zulfiqar Khosa.

Arguing the case on Thursday, Advocate Rijwana said according to the Constitution governor was the chief executive of a province. But, he said, the local bodies ordinance empowered the chief minister to take action against a nazim or naib nazim. He said that the local bodies’ ordinance was itself against the constitution of Pakistan.

On this, Justice Mian Hamid Farooq said that the issue was debatable and he could not give his verdict without hearing the government’s point of view.

In his submission, Punjab Local Bodies Commission member Sheikh Bashir Ahmed told the court that he had held an inquiry against Dera naib nazim Dost Muhammad Khosa on the order of the chief Minister. He said he had recommended his suspension because officiating as district nazim he had allowed the PML-N to hold a convention thus showing his political leaning. — Correspondent