Coalition Partners Criticize SC After It Instates Pervez Elahi As CM.

The coalition government Tuesday strongly responded to the Supreme Court's verdict to place Pervez Elahi as Punjab's chief minister, removing Hamza Shahbaz from the province's top office.

The Supreme Court declared Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari's ruling in the Punjab Chief Minister's election 'illegal' and ruled that PTI's candidate Pervez Elahi will be the new CM of the province.

The three-member bench - comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Muneeb Akhtar - also ordered Punjab Governor Baligh ur Rehman to administer the oath to Elahi at 11:30pm, adding that if he refuses to perform his duties, President Arif Alvi will administer the oath.

'Judicial coup,' PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said in a tweet, who had hours before the verdict asked the government to take a firm stand on the matter.

She also termed the decision 'the murder of justice.'

PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif took to his Twitter to 'salute the three judges', who heard the case.

'[Order] has made a mockery of Pakistan,' he wrote.

Former chief minister Punjab and PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz expressed sorrow over the SC's verdict, saying that the government elected by people's votes was sent home through a 'controversial decision'.

'Has the status of the assembly become a rubber stamp?' he questioned, adding that over the last four months, the biggest province of the country has become a 'laughing stock'.

In a press conference, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said it was 'clear' a day earlier that this decision will be announced...