'Ramday is yet to reach the required age to be eligible for the post'. PHOTO: FILE
The Lahore High Court on Wednesday admitted a petition challenging the appointment of Acting Advocate General Mustafa Ramday for regular hearing.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan of the Lahore High Court also issued a notice to the attorney general of Pakistan and the government for a response to the petition.
The court also directed the respondents to file a reply in two weeks.
The petitioner, Advocate Noshab A Khan, said Mustafa Ramday had been appointed as an additional advocate general and given charge of the office of the acting advocate general. He said the Punjab chief secretary had adopted an indirect procedure to fill the principal law officer’s post with someone who had yet to reach the required age (45 years) to be eligible for the constitutional post, as Ramday was 38 years old. He argued that Article 130 of the Constitution states that only a person qualified to be a high court judge could be appointed as the province’s advocate-general.
The petitioner said Ramday’s appointment was usurping the rights of eligible candidates and was a violation of the constitution.
He asked the court to set aside the notification for Ramday’s appointment as acting advocate general.
He also asked that the respondent be directed to be immediately stop exercising authorities and powers of the office as well as its facilities.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2014.
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