Caretaker CM accused of holding dual offices

SHC wants to know who is heading committee if Justice (retd) Alavi isn’t.

KARACHI:

A lawyer, who had challenged the appointment of Justice (retd) Zahid Kurban Alavi as the head of the government’s land committee, accused him of holding dual offices.

Barrister Muhammad Jamil initially went to Sindh High Court (SHC) challenging the appointment of Justice (retd) Zahid Kurban Alavi under the National Judicial Policy 2009, which bars all retired judges from accepting government assignments. During the hearing of this case, Barrister Jamil pointed out that Justice Alavi is, in fact, holding the office of the Sindh Government Land Committee even after assuming the office of the caretaker chief minister.

“In the light of the policy, such an assignment is lower than the calibre of a retired judge,” argued Jamil, pleading the court declare Justice Alavi’s appointment as contrary to the provisions of the national judicial policy.

When his plea was taken up for hearing on Thursday, the petitioner disclosed that Justice Alavi was still the chairperson of the government committee, despite his appointment as caretaker chief minister.

Contradicting this claim, provincial law officer Miran Muhammad Shah clarified that Justice Alavi was not heading the committee since his appointment as the chief executive of the province.

Nevertheless, SHC chief justice Mushir Alam told the law officer to seek a reply from the law secretary about his present status and who the incumbent chairperson of the land committee is. The hearing was adjourned for a date to be fixed later by the office when the officer will submit a report.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2013.