Considering holding Punjab CM election again: LHC.

LAHORE -- The Lahore High Court (LHC) is considering the polls for the Punjab chief minister's slot again, the court remarked on Tuesday while hearing the case challenging Hamza Shahbaz's election as the Punjab CM.

An LHC bench, headed by LHC Chief Justice Ameer Bhatti, resumed hearing on separate pleas - filed by PTI and PML-Q - against Hamza's election as CM.

During the hearing, the Punjab advocate-general sought a day's time to brief Punjab CM Hamza Shahbaz about the situation.

Meanwhile, PTI's lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar maintained that Hamza will no longer be the chief minister if the votes of 25 PTI dissidents are not counted.

"New elections should be staged after removing Hamza from his post," Barrister Zafar stressed, seeking at least 10 days time to hold polls again.

At this, the court remarked that the election of the Punjab chief minister should be held under the voter list as of April 16.

PTI's lawyer objected that the changes made so far cannot be reversed.

However, the court remarked that it will give legal cover on this matter.

At this, PTI's lawyer sought the inclusion of the five voters on the reserved seats as decided by the LHC in Monday's order.

"How could these voters be included when they weren't there on April 16?" Justice Tariq Saleem responded.

Earlier, the court said it wants to wrap up the case today.

While hearing the arguments from PTI's counsel, the court asked how a political crisis would be avoided if matters are taken back to the Punjab Assembly session on April 16 and polls are held again.

"In this case, the same presiding officer will hold the polls who was on duty during the April 16 polling," the court said.

Meanwhile, PTI's counsel maintained that the party has also challenged the election held with Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.

However, the court remarked that the order of the LHC is available and it cannot be challenged.

Later, the court...