Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday asked Chief Secretary Punjab to file reply to a petition against Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for holding ‘18 portfolios’ within three weeks.
The petition has been filed by a citizen through his counsel Noshab A Khan making Punjab Chief Minister, Principal Secretary to CM and Chief Secretary Punjab as respondent.
On Wednesday, when the petition came up for hearing befor Justice Umar Ata Bandial, he directed the chief secretary to file reply to the petition.
Earlier, the petitioner-counsel appearing before the court contended that the CM Shahbaz Sharif had kept with him the portfolios of Ministry of health, Communication & works, S&GAD, tourism, Local government, Community Development, Environment, Home, Special Education, Energy, Food, Information, Culture and youth Affairs, Sports, Population, Social Welfare and Housing in violation of Punjab Government Rules of Business 1974.
The petitioner pleaded that the chief minister was head of the provincial cabinet under rules of business and all ministers were supposed to work under his supervision but no minister was appointed for eighteen posts; the CM was retaining 18 portfolios.
He said that the tragedy of spurious drugs took place when the CM was abroad and there was no body responsible to tackle the issue.
Noshab contended that such tragedies would continue to happen, if the CM fail to appoint a full time health minister.
He also expressed apprehensions that similar incidents in other departments could take place, if violation of Punjab business continues.
The petitioner prayed to the court to ask the CM to relinquish all portfolios and appoint a health minister in the wake of the worst health situation in the province.
The court after hearing the arguments sought a reply from Chief Secretary Punjab within three weeks.
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