Caught out?: SC accepts petition against Zaka Ashraf
The Supreme Court on Friday accepted a petition questioning Ashraf’s appointment as president of Zarai Taraqiate Bank Limited (ZTBL), the post he has held for over three years. The court issued notices to federal secretaries, the State Bank of Pakistan and others stakeholders, before adjourning until November 14.
A three member bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, heard the petition, which claims that Ashraf was a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Pakistan Peoples Party when he was appointed chairman of the bank. This would be a transgression of the rules, as political office holders are barred from holding the position of chairman of ZTBL.
Additionally, the petition states that Ashraf was not appointed purely on merit, but rather as a political favour. The move was, it is claimed, opposed by the State Bank, only for the federal finance ministry to force it through.
The petition also alleges that Ashraf made illegal appointments during his presidency. Thirty-two cases were highlighted from an internal ZTBL audit by Advocate Mian Abdul Rauf, who is acting for the petitioner, Senior Executive Vice President of ZTBL Mohammad Nadeem Chohan. Allegations of further malpractice and corruption during Ashraf’s tenure were also made in the petition.
Although ZTBL is meant to aid agriculture in Pakistan, during Ashraf’s time as president the bank oversaw significant losses in the sector and a decline in growth, the petition alleges.
Ashraf served a full three-year term at the bank before being granted a year-long extension on September 28, 2011.
President Asif Zardari has approved Ashraf’s appointment as the new chairman of the PCB, though with this case in the Supreme Court the move has failed to provide the breath of fresh air Pakistan cricket fans had wanted. Instead of celebrating a new administration after the controversial chairmanship of Ijaz Butt, followers of the game will now be wondering if the new man, Zaka Ashraf, plays with a straight bat.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2011.
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I think the present SC only hear cases which have media-importance.
@ Imran..........Totally agree...The SC seems bent on only focusing appointments, while leaving a wide Gap on adjustment which require specifically action i.e Karachi Case. Being a Fan of CJP, but now it seems he has forgotten about the missing person Case and many other similar petitions which still requires his attention and focus, nothing happened on the sugar price hike or the petrol hike case - when the commission constituted had given their recommendations already.
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.The question rises that why zardari appointed this controversial person as the chairman PCB whereas PCB has a lot of experienced and well-renowned cricketers whose record is excellent and much the best in world cricket and in ODIs and test cricket.Why chairman PCB is not appointed from the well-renowned and experienced cricketers by the president of Pakistan?Always PCB's chairman must be appointed by the advice of senior,experienced and well-renowned cricketers so that capable person could become chairman PCB and president must take advice from the senior,experienced and well-renowned Pakistani cricketers before appointing PCB's chairman.
Somethings not right here. The NICL scam case is dragging along, the Steel Mills case is still there, the Haj scam case has not been settled, the RPP are a disaster bleeding the countries coffers, a murderer is being celebrated as a hero, the railway is bankrupt, PIA is in a bigger mess than ever before, the issue of dual nationality for government office being against the Constitution is not being addressed but the SC is bothered about the PCB chairman's appointment. Why aren't matters prioritised ?
An other example of 'Democratic government' which is 'striving for merit'.
Chief Sahib keeps no stone unturned when ever something comes from PPP and on the other hand PPP keeps him teasing. I think better choice would be Mr. Nawaz Sharif who even has his own umpires of choice.
H.CJ Please, do something positive for the country..!
In Cricket term, There is a huge appeal for Ashraf being out while he is still walking to the crease and has not faced even a single ball :D :D
That means... there is not a single person in Pakistan, ... who is not corrcupt....!!! WOW.. what a country...!!
@Imran, spot on bro...
Amonst all the cases, once again SC finds the most irrelevant one as the most important. Mr. CJ, please listen to the cries of the people who's cases are stuck in your court. Please provide justice to the victims of terrorism, and mullahism. Sir, right now your only goal seems to be providing ammunition to Nawaz Sharif to up his antic against the government, or providing cover to his allies in the banned organizations. Please sir, do your job with honesty and integrity.
Ijaz Butt's tenure brought the PCB to the edge of the cliff and Zaka's appointment just pushed it over :/
An ideal case of "Asman se gira khajoor mein atka!"
A controversy involving new Chairman of PCB even before his official appointment to the office.