‘Political’ appointment: Court issues notice to ETPB chairman

Senator Babar Awan maintains that the appointment was made in violation of SC orders passed in Khawaja Asif case

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices to Siddiqul Farooq, chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), after his appointment was challenged by a Pakistan Peoples Party Senator last week.

IHC Justice Attar Minallah, while accepting the petition of Senator Babar Awan, issued notices to the newly appointed chairman who is also the chief coordinator of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

ETPB was constituted by the federal government under the Evacuee Trust Properties (Management & Disposal) Act, 1975 and the government had recently appointed Farooq as its chairman.

The petitioner maintains that the appointment was made in violation of the Supreme Court (SC) orders passed in the Khawaja Asif case in June last year.

In that order, SC had directed the government to constitute a commission for appointments in statutory bodies, autonomous bodies, and regulatory authorities as well as in government-controlled corporations, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies.

Awan pointed out that the Farooq’s appointment was a clear violation of Supreme Court orders and requested IHC to declare his appointment illegal.

The petitioner further argued that the appointment was made on a political basis as the candidate is a member of the ruling party.  After primarily hearing the case, the court issued notices to the respondent and adjourned the case till the next date is fixed by the registrar’s office.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2014.