The sports ministry in its reply stated that an inquiry against the cricketers for their alleged involvement in match-fixing was already underway in London.
The ministry, the reply said, would take appropriate action after receiving a final report from the Pakistan High Commission in the United Kingdom. It further said that the petitioner should submit a reply explaining the allegations he had leveled against the cricketers.
It said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was an autonomous body and it was the policy of the ministry to not intervene in its internal affairs.
The ministry requested the court to dismiss the petition declaring it ‘non-maintainable’ because it cited facts which had not been established to be decided in a writ jurisdiction.
The petitioner, Shakil Ahmad, through his counsel, Advocate Chaudry Ishtiaq Ahmad, had submitted that the Pakistani cricket players had tarnished the country’s image by indulging in match fixing.
He said that every citizen was bound to express his allegiance to the country under Article 5 of the constitution. He maintained that the four players – Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amer – had violated this constitutional provision by indulging in spot-fixing.
He alleged that these players had earned millions of rupees through malpractice and now maintained accounts in Switzerland.
He said that these players had caused serious damage to the already stained reputation of the team. He requested the court to order registration of criminal cases and imposition of a lifetime ban on the said cricketers.
The court has deferred the hearing till September 22.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2010.
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