Plant Protection Dept: LHC sets aside appointment of DG

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday set aside the appointment of Sahibzada Imran Shami as Director General Plant Protection Department. It directed the principal secretary of the prime minister to make a fresh appointment strictly on merit. Earlier, the deputy attorney general said before the court that a new appointment would be made on merit. Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan directed the law officer to ensure the new appointment by January 19, 2017. Advocate Sheraz Zaka challenged the appointment of Shami, saying it was made in violation of the law and without the approval of the prime minister. The petitioner/lawyer further stated that the respondent was not a masters’ degree holder in the subject of agriculture, adding this was a prerequisite qualification. He stated the DG had a masters’ degree in business administration (finance). The lawyer pointed out that departmental inquiries were also pending against Shami before his appointment. He asked the court to set aside the impugned appointment as it was in violation of the rules and based on nepotism.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2016.