Last opportunity given to CM’s principal secretary

LHC rejects Batti's request seeking two weeks' time to respond; orders reply by next week

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Justice Anwaar Hussain, giving last opportunity to Punjab Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti, ordered him to submit reply within one week on a plea challenging recruitment of Bhatti which according to petitioner violated the due procedure.

However, Justice Anwaar turned down request of Bhatti’s counsels wherein they sought two week time for submitting reply.

“The question asked in the petition is very simple so one week is given for submission of the reply,” Justiuce Anwaar remarked.

Petitioner's lawyer Mian Dawood Advocate contended in the petition that it is settled law that where it was found that any person holding any position in or related to the government or performing functions directly, indirectly or incidentally in connection with affairs of the federal or any of the Provincial governments or any local authority had been appointed in the basis only of political affiliation (as political favour) and represented an exercise to reward cronies at the expense of public money, the superior judiciary could extend its outreach to undo such appointments.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2022.