Shumaila eyes return to Assembly

LAHORE Former PML-N MPA Shumaila Rana on Friday got time form the Lahore High Court by taking the plea that the dialogues are being made with party leadership for the restoration of her membership. After hearing the contentions of Counsel Azhar Hameed who appeared on behalf of Ms. Rana, Justice Umar Ata Bandial adjourned hearing of the petition till Dec 02. Ms. Rana had resigned from her assembly membership in July, 2009 owing to party pressure after a case of credit card theft and misuse was registered against her. Later she was acquitted of the charges and filed the petition for the restoration of her membership and alleged that she had resigned under coercion. Besides PML-N leaders she also made party to speaker Punjab assembly Rana Iqbal in her petition. It may be recalled that the top bras of PML-N including chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, PML-N senator Pervez Rasheed Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa had denied before the Lahore High Court that they had exerted any pressure on former PML-N MPA Shumaila Rana to resign from her assembly membership. Ms. Rana through her counsel Azhar Hameed submitted that after the registration of theft case a Committee was formed by PML-N comprising Senator Pervez Rashid, MNA Pervez Malik, Muhammad Ajmal, Secretary to Chief Minister and Naseem Sadiq, additional secretary law. She alleged that her party leaders harassed her for resigning from the seat of MPA and they also sent armed person to her house to pressurize her. Subsequently she had to resign from the assembly, petitioner added. Ahad arrest warran: A Labour Court Judge Chaudhry Khaleeq Zaman on Friday issued bailable arrest warrants of Lahore District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Cheema for his repeated disappearance in a contempt of court petition. According to case details, Amir Sheikh, a junior clerk of DCO office was terminated from his services and he had approached the Labour Court against his termination. After hearing the case, the court had directed DCO to restore the job of Amir Sheikh but DCO office did not bother to comply with. ASSETS CASE:  Lahore High Court Justice Muhammad Khalid Mehmood Khan on Friday directed Punjab advocate general and a deputy attorney general to tell about investigation assigned to the National Accountability Court by a bench of the LHC in late 90s regarding assets amassed by renowned former and sitting politicians. CJ: The Lahore High Court new chief justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed on Friday visited the high court bar following an old tradition.Lahore High Court Bar Association President Asghar Ali Gill and other members welcomed Justice Saeed and congratulated him on becoming the Chief Justice. IG: The LHC on Friday directed the Punjab Inspector General (IG) of police to submit a comprehensive security plan for all high and districts courts in the province. Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed issued these directions on a hearing of suo moto case against four murders on premises of Rawalpindi district courts.

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