The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday temporarily stopped the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi from performing his duties as special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM).
The IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued the directives while hearing former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s petition, challenging Abbasi's appointment contending “a person with a criminal conviction, particularly a conviction for dealing in narcotics,” is unsuitable to hold such a position.
The high court expressed hope that Abbasi would refrain from performing official duties till the next hearing scheduled for May 27.
While the court stopped the PML-N leader from performing his official work, his lawyer Ahsan Bhoon convinced the court to refrain from issuing a direct order.
Read IHC orders PM to review Hanif Abbasi’s appointment as SAPM
“Don't give complete relief now, first listen to our arguments,” stated the attorney.
At the hearing the petitioner, Sheikh Rashid, was present alongside his lawyer and the Deputy Attorney General Syed Tayyab Shah.
The case had earlier prompted the Cabinet Division’s Deputy Secretary Khurram Ghaznavi to submit an interim report to the IHC which mentioned that a summary has been sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through the Ministry of Law and Justice, asking him to reconsider Abbasi’s appointment.
CJ Athar Minallah added that until the court reaches a decision, an official cannot be appointed to the office.
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