LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday summoned Punjab advocate general (AG) for assistance in a case related to Punjab Assembly speaker`s election.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Muzzamil Akhtar Shabbir, heard a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) against the election.

Advocate Mansoor Awan represented Malik Saiful Malook Khokhar, the PML-N candidate for PA speaker. He claimed that the election was held in an `illegal and unconstitutional manner`.

He contended that the contest for the speaker`s slot was a `sheer violation` of Article 226 which said that `all elections under the Constitution, other than those of the PrimeMinister and the Chief Minister, shall be by secret ballot`.

Mr Awan further said that a serial number was mentioned on the ballot papers and each MPA had to sign it.

`The choice exercised by each MPA could be identified by comparing the serial number on the ballot paper and the signatures,` he added.

The court questioned whether there was any forum available to address the speaker election and could the matter bereferred tothe Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

However, Mr Awan responded in negative and said that the contest was challenged for the first time in the history of Pakistan.

The PML-N lawyer said that the election commission could take measures to stop rigging in such elections while the court had the power to intervene in this matter.

Later, the Lahore High Courtissued notices to the respondents and summoned Punjab Advocate General (AG)for assistance in the case.

PTI candidate Sibtan Khan was elected as the new speaker of the Punjab Assembly on July 29. He secured 185 votes while PML-N`s Saiful Malook Khokhar obtained 175 votes.

Meanwhile, special assistant to Prime Minister Ata Tarar, talking to media outside the court, said the speaker election was conducted under secret baHot but the government had violated Article 226 of the constitution.

He said the constitution was violated in the speaker`s election and Chauhdry Pervaiz Elahi had recruited seven people illegally.

He demanded that the election should be declared illegal and a new speaker election should be carried out according to the constitution.