Cricket controversy: IHC seeks reply from Najam Sethi
Advocate Tariq Asad, argued the government appointed him in violation of PCB rules.
File photo of Najam Sethi. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad High Court on Monday issued notices to the interim chairman Pakistan Cricket Board and secretary ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) in response to a petition filed by Abdullah Tahir maintaining the appointment of Najam Sethi was made on ‘political basis’.
Hearing the petition, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui sought a reply from acting PCB chief Najam Sethi and Secretary IPC Faridullah Khan on July 4. The IHC observed that Sethi was appointed on June 22 by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz govt despite having no experience in the field of cricket.
Amateur cricketer Tahir’s counsel, Advocate Tariq Asad, argued the government appointed him in violation of PCB rules. He maintained that the former interim chief minister of Punjab was appointed on a political basis and that Sethi was a non-professional, incompetent person who did not have any relevant experience and he was not qualified for the post.
Justice Siddiqui observed that initially three names were sent to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the post of PCB chairman and that Sethi’s name was not among them. Advocate Asad maintained that the global governing body of cricket, the International Cricket Council, had also banned political appointments in cricket boards.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2013.
Islamabad High Court on Monday issued notices to the interim chairman Pakistan Cricket Board and secretary ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) in response to a petition filed by Abdullah Tahir maintaining the appointment of Najam Sethi was made on ‘political basis’.
Hearing the petition, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui sought a reply from acting PCB chief Najam Sethi and Secretary IPC Faridullah Khan on July 4. The IHC observed that Sethi was appointed on June 22 by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz govt despite having no experience in the field of cricket.
Amateur cricketer Tahir’s counsel, Advocate Tariq Asad, argued the government appointed him in violation of PCB rules. He maintained that the former interim chief minister of Punjab was appointed on a political basis and that Sethi was a non-professional, incompetent person who did not have any relevant experience and he was not qualified for the post.
Justice Siddiqui observed that initially three names were sent to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the post of PCB chairman and that Sethi’s name was not among them. Advocate Asad maintained that the global governing body of cricket, the International Cricket Council, had also banned political appointments in cricket boards.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2013.