Flouting the rules: IHC seeks response on unfilled SECP post

Petitioner asked to make the acting chairman party in the case.

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) sought a reply from top government officials in response to a petition seeking the court’s direction on the appointment of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) chairman.

IHC Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi asked the cabinet division secretary and finance secretary to explain why the post of chairman has been vacant since April 2013.

Justice Kasi in his order asked the petitioner, Malik Irfan Elahi, to also make the acting chairman, Tahir Mahmood, party in the case.

The petitioner’s counsel Barrister Afzal Hussain pointed out that though the post was vacant since April 9, 2013 the government had not yet appointed anyone – which is a violation of Section 6, of the 1997 SECP Act.



The counsel for the petitioner agreed that the post has a direct impact on the corporate sectors and capital markets of the country. The chief justice adjourned the matter till the next date – which is to be fixed by the registrar’s office.

Barrister Hussain maintained that the apex court had set aside the appointment of Muhammad Ali Ghulam on April 9, 2013 on the ground that the appointment was made in violation of the SECP Act and court had directed the government to appoint its chairman without any delay.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2013.