RAWALPINDI: The head of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that the “doctrine of necessity” is alive as the notification of Governor (Punjab to denotify Pervaiz Elahi as Chief Minister) has only been suspended, not cancelled.
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His comments came after yesterday’s Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict, reinstating Pervaiz Elahi as Chief Minister with his cabinet as ‘interim relief’, that too on the basis of a written undertaking that he would not dissolve the provincial assembly till the next hearing on January 11.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) too has raised eyebrows over the LHC verdict’s part refraining CM Punjab from dissolving the provincial assembly, but said the verdict was ‘technically’ correct.
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Taking to Twitter, Sheikh Rashid said “no law could force Parliament to complete its term.” He said Shehbaz Sharif too had submitted an affidavit (in the LHC regarding the return of his brother to Pakistan after completing his treatment abroad, something which has never been questioned again by the same court).
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Sheikh Rashid said Governor Punjab’s notification was in clear violation of the constitution, and the Chief Minister had every right to dissolve the provincial assembly. He said the ‘doctrine of necessity’ was alive, and the verdict (of LHC) was 50-50 (a reference to judges’ comments that they were hearing the case yesterday to create balance between the two parties, i.e. Governor and CM).
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