BHC directs govt to finalise appointment of BST chief

Names for tribunal chief had been sent to govt more than 2 months ago

QUETTA: Balochistan High Court (BHC) has directed the provincial government to finalise the appointment of Balochistan Services Tribunal (BST) chairman without any further delay.

In an appeal filed by Abdul Hameed, Balochistan Chief Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Nazeer Ahmed Langove granted more time to the government for the induction of the BST chief.

The names for the appointment of BST chairman had been sent to the provincial government more than two months ago but the issue has still not been resolved.

The Advocate General appeared before the court and requested for another week’s time.

The court directed the government representatives to finalise the appointment within the given timeframe, after failing which the chief secretary would appear before the court to explain the reasons.

The court was adjourned until March 9.

Meanwhile, the BHC gave two weeks to former provincial home minister Senator Sarfraz Bugti to ensure the recovery of the allegedly abducted minor girl. Senator Bugti is facing charges of involvement in kidnapping of a minor girl, Maria.

Maria’s grandmother had filed a case about her kidnapping against her father and alleged that the girl was kept in the senator’s house after being kidnapped.

During the hearing on Wednesday, Additional Advocate General told BHC Justice Abdullah Baloch that the recovery of Maria had not yet been made.

"Do your part. People have high hopes from you. You are given a timeframe of two weeks to resolve the issue. Hopefully when you arrive in the next hearing, there will be a marked progress in the case," Justice Baloch said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2020.