LAHORE:The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has also filed a petition before the Lahore High Court challenging an ordinance issued by the Punjab governor clipping powers of the Punjab Assembly speaker.

The petition moved by PTI MPA Zainab Umar through Advocate Azhar Siddique states the governor in an arbitrary manner prorogued the 40th session of the assembly and highhandedly called 41st session immediately in dire violation of the Constitution.

Itsays thisactisinsheer violation of the Constitution as well as in violation of the oath of different functionaries as stipulated through the 3rd schedule under Article(s) 42, 91(1), 92(2), 53(2), 61, 65,102,130(5),132(2)and 127 of the Constitution.

The petition argues that the governor promulgated the Punjab Laws (Repealing and Removal of Difficulties) Ordinance 2022 in haste and pursuant to mala fide intention to pass the annualbudgetby keeping the opposition benches away from the requisite process in an unconstitutional manner.

It says the Punjab government slashed powers of the speaker through the impugned ordinance, however, oddly. It pleads the so-called ordinance falsely adds that assembly is not in session and the governor is satished, though amazingly, that circumstances exist which renderitnecessary to take immediate action.

The petition asks the court to set aside the ordinance promulgated by the governor for being unconstitutional.

On a similar petition filed by PA Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, the court already sought replies from the government by June 24.

Hearing the petition of Parvez Elahi on Monday, the court, however, refused to stay the ordinance without seeking point of view of the government.

Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi, however, issued a notice to the government and sought assistance from the advocate general of Punjab.