Record of Awan's LGC chief posting sought
IHC directs AAG to present arguments at next hearing
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Record of appointing an aide of Prime Minister Imran Khan as the head of a local government oversight has been sought from the federal government after it was argued that he was appointed in a non-transparent manner.
This was directed on Tuesday as a single-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, heard a petition filed by the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz.
Aziz had challenged the appointment of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan as the chairman of the Local Government Commission (LGC) - an oversight body over the affairs of the CDA and the IMC.
During Tuesday's hearing, the court expressed its dissatisfaction with the reply filed by the federation, declaring it as unsatisfactory.
The mayor's counsel, Kashif Ali Malik, completed his arguments. He contended Awan's appointment was less than transparent.
He said that Awan, an elected national assembly member from the federal capital, was appointed even though the post of chairman was never advertised nor was he subject to a competitive process.
"Only Awan's name was sent for approval for the post of LGC chairman," Malik said, adding that it is unknown who nominated Awan for the post in the first place.
The lawyer also presented the record of a press conference conducted by Awan and fellow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA from Islamabad Raja Khurram Nawaz in which they levelled serious allegations against the mayor.
Malik argued that appointing Awan - who had been elected to the IMC and served as the leader of the opposition in the council - as the LGC chairman was the best example of conflict of interest.
The court subsequently directed the Additional Attorney General to present records of Awan's appointment to the court and his arguments in the case at the next hearing. The hearing was then adjourned until June 11.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2020.
Record of appointing an aide of Prime Minister Imran Khan as the head of a local government oversight has been sought from the federal government after it was argued that he was appointed in a non-transparent manner.
This was directed on Tuesday as a single-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, heard a petition filed by the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz.
Aziz had challenged the appointment of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan as the chairman of the Local Government Commission (LGC) - an oversight body over the affairs of the CDA and the IMC.
During Tuesday's hearing, the court expressed its dissatisfaction with the reply filed by the federation, declaring it as unsatisfactory.
The mayor's counsel, Kashif Ali Malik, completed his arguments. He contended Awan's appointment was less than transparent.
He said that Awan, an elected national assembly member from the federal capital, was appointed even though the post of chairman was never advertised nor was he subject to a competitive process.
"Only Awan's name was sent for approval for the post of LGC chairman," Malik said, adding that it is unknown who nominated Awan for the post in the first place.
The lawyer also presented the record of a press conference conducted by Awan and fellow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA from Islamabad Raja Khurram Nawaz in which they levelled serious allegations against the mayor.
Malik argued that appointing Awan - who had been elected to the IMC and served as the leader of the opposition in the council - as the LGC chairman was the best example of conflict of interest.
The court subsequently directed the Additional Attorney General to present records of Awan's appointment to the court and his arguments in the case at the next hearing. The hearing was then adjourned until June 11.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2020.