The country’s top court has issued notices to 73 respondents seeking their replies over the maintainability of a petition against their appointments.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, adjourned hearing of the petition filed by Islamabad High Court (IHC) Bar Association’s former vice-president Chaudhry Muhammad Akram against the ‘illegal’ appointments in the high court.
He has also sought initiation of legal proceedings against those involved in the 73 appointments made after the re-establishment of IHC in 2010.
During the hearing recently, the Attorney-General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt informed the apex court that the petition was maintainable. He said there are two prayers in the petition -- the first is to declare the appointments illegal and the second is to take action against responsible persons.
He submitted that the top court has the authority to hear the matter to the extent of the illegal appointments.
The petitioner’s counsel Arif Chaudhry referred three different judgments in support of his plea that the top court has the authority to hear the petition.
On February 6, the court had sought reply from IHC registrar on the plea. The court’s administration had admitted that 19 out of the 73 appointments were made by relaxing rules.
“Total strength of high court is more than 400, therefore, 19 appointments made in relaxation of rules is not a big figure to be highlighted by anyone”, the reply says.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2014.
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