LAHORE – The Lahore High Court on Tuesday accepted for hearing a petition praying to restrain Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from using his powers for issuance of federal budget 2012-13 as he has been convicted by the Supreme Court.
Justice Umar Ata Bandia referred the petition to the LHC chief justice for formation of a larger bench for hearing the petition. The court also issued notice to Attorney General and sought reply.
Petitioner Shahnsha Shamil Pracha Advocate filed the petition through his counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddque and A.K Dogar. During the course of hearing, both counsels said the prime minister could not approve the budget after conviction on April 26, in the contempt of court case.
They said under the constitution, a convicted member of parliament could not approve budget of the county as this situation would create another constitutional crisis.
“After PM’s conviction, the federal cabinet is running the affairs of the state in violation of Article 90 of the constitution,” they said.