Pakistan

SC orders dismissal of adviser to railways minister

Says appointment at old Railway Golf Club is a violation of court order

APP August 13, 2021

A file photo of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered immediate dismissal of Shah Rukh Khan, adviser to the railways minister.

A three-member SC bench comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel heard the old Railway Golf Club implementation case.

During the proceedings, the court expressed annoyance over the appointment of the adviser to railways minister and ordered his immediate removal.

Justice Ijaz said that according to media reports, the federal railways minister had appointed an adviser for the Railway Golf Club Lahore, asking under which law the railway minister appoint Shah Rukh Khan as an adviser.

Justice Ijaz said that the Golf club was not privately owned and favoured persons could not be appointed to run the affairs of the club. “Such appointments could not be made in a public office,” the judge remarked.

Justice Ijaz said there were appointment rules and a complete procedure for hiring people, asking how could be people be appointed like this.

The judge asked the railways secretary whether he did not advise his minister that he could not recruit people in the golf club.

The railways secretary replied that the minister appointed Shah Rukh Khan as an adviser in the interest of the club.

Justice Bandial asked why the appointment at the Golf club was not brought to the notice of the court.

Justice Ijaz said that the appointments of management at the old Golf club were made on a court order. “The appointment of railway minister's adviser is a violation of court order.”

Justice Bandial said that the court order had been deliberately violated.

Addressing the railways secretary, Justice Bandial said that he was saying that the railways minister's adviser would work without pay. "I don't think the Pakistani government is running on charity." Justice Bandial said that the court wanted to improve institutions and put them in safe hands in the future.

Justice Ijaz asked who runs the Golf club administration.

The secretary replied that the CEO was leading the management of old Railway Golf Club in consultation with Adviser Shah Rukh Khan.

Justice Mandokhel asked, “What is the authority of the adviser.”

The secretary replied that Shah Rukh Khan did not have the authority to sign documents and keep records related to the old Railway Golf Club.

Justice Bandial said that the court would not tolerate any recruitment or reshuffle in the old Railway Golf Club.

The court directed to complete the audit of old Railway Golf Club and adjourned the hearing of the case till date in office.

COMMENTS (1)

Abid Alam | 3 years ago | Reply Honorary appointments of chairmen authorities have become the hallmark of this government. Chairman CPEC authority appointed honorary without fulfilling any hiring procedures. Chairman Special Technology Zones Authority- Amir Hashmi appointed honorary and later through a sham process appointed permenant chairperson although he doesnot have the minimum required qualification of a masters degree as required in the advertisement for the same post by the Cabinet Division. His appointment was announced on 8 Jan 2021 and his interview for the same post was conducted after his appointment. Interview conducted on 27 Jan 2021. Google PHC STZA and see how widely this matter was reported in the national media but no corrective measure taken by PM Imran Khan. Nepotism is the hall mark of this government.

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