Daily Times

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Tuesday issued notices on a petition challenging eligibility of unopposed elected Lahore Mayor Colonel (r) Mubashar Javaid.

The court sought replies from the respondents till January 16.

A local resident, Abdur Rehman, had filed the petition. Counsel for petitioner Sheraz Zaka submitted that Mubashar Javaid had served in government departments and could not contest election before a period of two years after leaving the job.

He said that the mayor had also served as chief warden of the Civil Defence Department and as a member of the Evacuee Trust Property Board.

He said that Mubashar Javaid was not eligible to contest any election and should be declared disqualified.

Assistant Advocate General Anwaar Hussain while opposing the petition said that petitioner had not provided the court with any documentary evidence to prove his allegations against the mayor.

He said the petition also failed to establish that Mubashar Javaid had been getting remuneration from the government against any service and his petition should be dismissed.

Separately, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Tuesday sought assistance from the attorney general on a petition challenging the government’s notifications of giving control of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to their respective ministries.

The court directed the federal government to inform it until January 20 as to how the prime minister abolished the independent entity of these institutions without consulting the Council Of Common Interest (CCI).

Advocate Sheraz Zaka had challenged the notifications of giving control of the OGRA, NEPRA, PPRA and the PTA to their respective ministries.

The petitioner contended that administrative control of these regulatory authorities to their respective ministries was against the law. He said that the impugned notifications were issued without approval from the Council of Common Interest and the cabinet.

He claimed that the impugned notification was violation of article 154 of the constitution. He requested the court to declare the notifications null and void.

Earlier, deputy attorney general, while opposing the petition on behalf of the federal government said, that the petition was not maintainable. He claimed that approval of the CCI was not required for the subjugation of the regulatory authorities.