The Lahore High Court on Friday stopped the recently appointed Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) chairman from discharging his duties until the next date of hearing of the petition challenging his appointment.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah passed this order on a petition filed by Liaqat Ali, Muhammad Munawar and others. Zahid Bashir was recently appointed the chairman by the governor.
The petitioners’ counsel argued that under law, the governor could only appoint the society’s chairman once. He said that as a result of amendments made to the rules, the managing committee had to be consulted by the governor before appointing a chairman. Haji Muhammad Hanif was removed and Bashir appointed without consulting the committee, the lawyer said.
Bashir’s counsel said that the governor had the authority to remove and appoint chairmen. He termed the amendments made to the rules void for being “in violation of laws” that he said “barred the governor from exercising his powers”. The governor had also issued a show cause notice to the managing committee, the lawyer told the court.
The judge then ordered that the managing committee would run the affairs of the PRCS, apart from taking decision involving financial matters, till further orders.
The court then adjourned the hearing for two weeks.
The petitioners want the court to set the appointment aside. They’ve also requested that the governor be restrained from interfering in the society’s affairs.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2012.
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