Against rules: Balochistan ombudsman appointment challenged

Says appointment is in violation of Supreme Court’s June 6 orders.

QUETTA:

Transparency International Pakistan has sent a complaint to Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Esa against the appointment of Wasey Tareen as Balochistan ombudsman on the recommendations of the then caretaker chief minister.

TIP said it has received a complainant alleging that the appointment of Tareen was illegal as such appointments were not allowed under the mandate of the caretaker government.

TIP said the appointment of the ombudsman was in violation of Supreme Court’s June 6 orders.

The whistleblower against corruption has urged BHC CJ Esa to look into the matter of the appointment of Balochistan ombudsman in the light of the judgment of the Supreme Court.

The apex court had decided that the caretaker government was empowered to carry out only day-to-day affairs of the state. Major policy decisions including making of appointments, transfers and postings of the government servants should be left to be made by the incoming government.



Moreover, on the same issue the apex court observed on May 22:” We do allow the learned Attorney General for Pakistan to take instructions from the government but in view of the importance of the issue involved in the petition, we direct that; all the appointments, transfers and postings, which have been made by the caretaker government, referred to hereinabove, shall stand suspended.”

The Supreme Court had ruled that till pendency of this petition no further appointment, transfer and posting shall  be made by the caretaker government including the appointment of federal ombudsman, tax ombudsman and anti-dumping tribunal, except the postings and transfers, which relate to day-to-day business of the government and are required to be made in the interest of state and also to watch the interest of public, strictly following the rules and regulations on the subject, and in a transparent manner.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2013.