PTI’s council Barrister Ali Zafar argued in the Lahore High Court that vote of dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPs for the election of Punjab CM Hamza Shehbaz would not be counted in light of the Supreme Court’s interpretation of Article 63-A.

LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti heard the case filed by the PTI against election of the Punjab chief minister after the Election Commission of Pakistan de-seated 25 dissident MPs of the party on defection.

Barrister Ali Zafar argued that Hamza was elected as CM with the votes of dissident MPs but their votes would not be counted after the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Article 63-A.

At this the chief justice noted that the Punjab CM election was held while the interpretation of the article was sub-judice in the apex court.

Barrister Zafar said the Article 63-A existed in the Constitution before the Supreme Court announced its interpretation and the clause would be applied to the election held in the past as the apex court did not issue a clarification in this regard.

Later the court adjourned hearing of the case till Wednesday (tomorrow).

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz submitted a 16-page written response to the LHC on Monday over the petitions challenging his election.

He termed the interpretation of Article 63-A by the Supreme Court of Pakistan not applicable to his election as Punjab chief minister. Hamza stated that the election was conducted as per the high court’s orders, the law and the Constitution.

The response, submitted through his lawyer Khalid Ishaq, argued that since Supreme Court’s judgement came after the polls, it did not impact his position.