PHC seeks reply from Senate chairman in plea on no-confidence.

PESHAWAR -- A Peshawar High Court bench has sought reply from Senate chairman in a petition challenging voting on resolutions of no-confidence against the chairman and deputy chairman in the Senate last year also seeking fresh voting on the said resolutions.

The bench of Justice Ikramullah Khan and Justice Ijaz Anwar issued the order here the other day after preliminary hearing of the petition filed by a freelance journalist, Shahid Orakzai, claiming that in the last year voting on the resolutions the presiding officer had played partisan role.

The petitioner contended that the presiding officer, Mohammad Ali Saif, betrayed neutrality emphasised by Article 55 of the Constitution.

He requested the court to order fresh voting in the Senate on the resolutions of no-confidence against its chairman and deputy chairman.

Mr Orakzai argued that in sharp violation of Article 55 of the Constitution, Senator Saif did cast two ballots on resolutions tabled against Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani and Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala.

When he requested the bench to summon the record of voting on the resolutions so as to ascertain his claim that Senator Saif cast two votes, Justice Ikramullah inquired whether the high court could summon...