PBM chief’s appointment: Govt asked to produce notification

AML chief challenges Barrister Sheikh’s appointment

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed the federal government to produce a copy of the notification by which the new Pakistan Baitul Mal managing-director (MD) was appointed.

Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid had challenged the appointment of Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh as MD.

During Monday’s hearing, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Sheikh had been appointed in violation of merit and due process. The petitioner’s counsel claimed that the government has concealed the appointment notification, as, according to him, Sheikh was not appointed through the federal commission for selection of heads of public sector organisations, which was made mandatory in light of the Supreme Court judgment in the Khawaja Asif case.

He said that the precedent-setting apex court judgment meant that the appointment should have been made through due process and requested the court to declare the appointment null and void.

During the last hearing, the court had issued a notice to Sheikh, seeking a reply. He did not submit his reply on Monday.

The petitioner’s counsel claimed that the respondent’s failure to reply despite a court notice was enough to prove that his appointment was illegal.

IHC judge Athar Minallah questioned how and why the appointment was made in violation of the apex court judgment and directed the additional attorney general to produce a copy of the notification in the court besides providing the same to the petitioner’s counsel.

Additional Attorney General Faisal Rafique sought more time to submit the reply. Advocate Asad Abbasi submitted a power of attorney on behalf of Abid Sheikh and sought more time to submit his reply.

The hearing was adjourned until a date to be decided by the court registrar’s office.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2014.