SC registrar removed after one week

Abdul Razzaque repatriated to LHC; replaced by another deputationist, Amer Saleem Rana

Supreme Court Registrar Abdul Razzaque has been removed with immediate effect, just eight days after his appointment to the key position.

According to a notification issued on Wednesday, Razzaque—a deputationist judicial officer of BPS-22, who earlier served as a district and sessions judge, has been repatriated to his parent department, the Lahore High Court (LHC), after the approval of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial.

Razzaque has been replaced by another deputationist, Amer Saleem Rana, who currently serves as the SC additional registrar (administration). "[Rana] will look after/officiate the charge of the post of registrar of this court with immediate effect [and] until further orders," said another notice.

No permanent employee of the Supreme Court is eligible to work as an acting registrar.

Just days before his retirement, CJP Bandial, on September 7, appointed Abdul Razzaque as the Supreme Court registrar on a deputation basis. Razzaque, a district and sessions judge, was then working as an additional registrar in the top court.

Sources had revealed that Chief Justice-designate Justice Qazi Faez Isa had not been properly consulted before the appointment.

Instead of a civil servant, CJP Bandial had preferred to appoint a judicial officer as the SC registrar. Earlier, mostly a civil servant was appointed to the key post, a practice to which Justice Isa had once objected.

Abdul Razzaque had already completed his five-year deputation term at the apex court. He was known for his close association with former CJP Mian Saqib Nisar and his camp.