PML-N to approach court over oath crisis

• Sources say PML-N's core committee discussed Punjab governor's refusal to administer oath to CM-elect.
• Say meeting agreed that declining oath was contempt of court as well as a constitutional violation.
• PML-N leaders say "PML-Q tried to kill deputy speaker".

LAHORE: The ruling PML-N has decided to move the Lahore High Court against Punjab Governor Omer Sarfaraz Cheema's refusal to administer oath to the newly elected Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, The News reported Tuesday.

The publication stated, citing sources, that the decision was made at the party's core committee meeting where senior party leaders discussed the matter with constitutional experts.

Sources said that the meeting agreed that declining oath to a CM-elect was contempt of court as well as a constitutional violation.

'PML-Q tried to kill deputy speaker'

Meanwhile, PML-N leaders Attaullah Tarar, Owais Leghari and Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said during a press conference that the PML-Q MPAs tried to torture Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari during the ruckus on the day of the chief minister's election.

They said the assembly security staff recruited from Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin by Parvez Elahi in black uniform was clearly seen torturing other assembly members.

They said that Cheema and PTI Chairman Imran Khan had violated the Constitution.

“Omer Sarfraz Cheema, you have time till night. Action will also be taken against you,” Tarar said, claiming that the no-confidence motion against Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi would get 210 votes.

He said a new video had emerged about the events in the Punjab Assembly.

“I challenge you, if there is any video of our torture, bring it out [...] Monis Elahi has caused irreparable damage to the PML-Q,” he said.

Tarar claimed that Parvez had initiated violence against the deputy speaker under his supervision. He said that our member Amjad Farooq was pressured by the police to leave the party while assembly employees were also involved in the attack.

“Parvez Elahi is trying to create some kind of crisis by using his position of speaker. For God's sake, go home and accept defeat,” Leghari said, adding that Article 6 should be applied on them and action would be taken against Assembly officers involved in violence.

There is no executive in the province and no one is able to order bureaucracy, he said, adding that no one has the right to take the province away from the true rulers and this right should be given to the PML-N’s chief minister.

He said that the farmer was not able to sell his grain because there was no one to watch over the system.

“We are peaceful people, we have exercised restraint despite violence but they are bent upon ending this democratic system.”

He said the punishment was mandatory for violating the Constitution.