Party Favours: Export processing zone appointments challenged

Petitioner challenges new appointments, terms them political, and alleges they are getting benefits beyond EPZ rules.

KARACHI:

The federal commerce ministry, chairman of the Export Processing Zone and attorney general were put on notice for August by the Sindh High Court (SHC) here on Friday in a petition challenging alleged illegal appointments.

Major (retired) Haq Nawaz and six other EPZ employees are questioning the appointment of Tariq Hasan, a former Karachi nazim, EPZ Vice Chairman Zahid Iqbal among others which they said was done on a political basis. They maintained that the new appointments to senior positions were part of a deal between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Q. They argue that these officers are receiving perks and privileges beyond the scope of EPZ rules.

They have asked the court to restrain these men from working until the petition is decided and pleaded the court to declare their appointment illegal and nullified.

Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Salahuddin Panhwar ordered their office to issue notices to the officials mentioned in the petition to appear on August 6.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2012.