LAHORE – A Lahore High Court (LHC) bench consisting of Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday adjourned until January 21 hearing of a petition challenging eligibility of Latif Khosa for appointment as Punjab governor due to serious corruption charges against him.
During the case’s previous hearing, the judge had admitted the petition for regular hearing and summoned Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) President Abdul Qadoos, deputy attorney general and the Punjab additional advocate general for assistance.
On Wednesday, no proceedings could be conducted as counsels could not appear due to other engagements. Petitioner Nawaz Cheema submitted that Khosa was removed as attorney general on corruption charges and the case in this regard is pending before the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and according to articles 62 and 63 of the constitution, Khosa is not eligible to be appointed as governor. The petitioner asked the court to declare his appointment as unconstitutional and illegal.
Cheema contended that recommendation and advice for the said appointment was illegal, as the LHC had held Khosa as a man of professional misconduct in two cases and directed the subordinate judiciary throughout the province not to take notice of any order or document referred by the respondent unless a certified copy of the order was produced.
The petitioner contended that according to the constitution, a person could not be appointed governor unless he is qualified to become member of the National Assembly (MNA).
