The judges of a divisional bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday recused themselves from hearing the intra-court appeal of former Punjab chief minister and PTI President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi challenging the decision of a single bench. The LHC’s divisional bench judges, Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa have refused to hear the intra-court appeal of the PTI leader, citing personal reasons. The duo recommended the LHC chief justice to send the case to another bench. Last week, Elahi filed an intra-court appeal against the decision of the single bench of the LHC.

 The single bench voided the decision of a judicial magistrate who had discharged the PTI president in a corruption case. The prosecution had argued that the magistrate had no power to discharge the respondent (Elahi). The magistrate had discharged Elahi in cases of alleged corruption in the Lahore Master Plan 2050 and development schemes in different districts. Elahi filed his intra-court appeal against the single bench decision through his lawyer Aftab Bajwa. The appeal made the investigation officer of the case respondent.

 Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)