LHC rejects challenge to Dar’s deputy PM role

SHC issues notices to govt officials on similar petition

LAHORE/ KARACHI:

The Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea against the appointment of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as the deputy PM, declaring it inadmissible.

However, the Sindh High Court issued notices to the government officials on a similar petition seeking their response by May 30.

In the plea submitted to the LHC, the petitioner had argued that there was no post of the deputy PM mentioned in the Constitution.

At the SHC, petitioner Tariq Mansoor raised the same point in his petition.

He also contended before a two-judge bench headed by SHC Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi that there was no room for a deputy PM in the Constitution.

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On the court’s query, the lawyer replied that the deputy PM would receive a monthly salary and other benefits that came to around Rs9 million.

Justice Abbasi observed that given the present possibilities, the PM had appointed his deputy so that there was somebody to manage the affairs in case he was ousted.

The federal government’s lawyer told the bench that the LHC had dismissed a similar plea earlier in the day. The SHC CJ highlighted that was the LHC. The SHC issued notices to the cabinet, PM, president and National Assembly secretaries.