ISLAMABAD - A writ petition challenging the appointment of Maryam Nawaz Sharif as Chairperson Prime Minister Youth Loan Scheme (PMYLS) was moved in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Wednesday.
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah will take up the petition here today. The petition was moved by Aashiq Bhatti.
In his petition, Bhatti cited Federation of Pakistan, through secretary cabinet division, and Maryam Nawaz Sharif as respondents and maintained before the court that the appointment was made in sheer violation of law, merit criteria and against the dictum laid down by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Khawaja Asif and Anita Turab cases for the appointments of such office bearers.
The petitioner through his counsel Yasir Mahmood Chaudhry Advocate argued before the court that Cabinet Division issued the appointment notification of Maryam on November 22, 2013 but the notification was concealed.
He added that the Cabinet Division has been concealing the appointment notification of Maryam as it is not available on the website.
The petitioner argued that the said appointment was made without inviting the applications and without giving advertisements in newspapers. Cabinet Division may be inquired that could it exercise its powers in an arbitrary manner.
He stated that appointment of Maryam was made just because she was the daughter of sitting Prime Minister of Pakistan and the impugned appointment is a result of sheer nepotism.
Bhatti contended that the appointment of Maryam Nawaz is against the fundamental rights and principles of policy, against the equality of citizens.
The petitioner’s counsel stated in the petition that Maryam is still involved in political activities of PML(N) and leading political meetings and giving political statements even after assuming the charge of Chairperson Youth Loan Programme which is also a violation of guidelines laid down by the apex court for public office holder. Therefore, he prayed to the court to direct Cabinet Division to produce a copy of appointment notification of Maryam and explain that under what law and authority it made the said appointment.
The petitioner further prayed to declare the said appointment as illegal, void ab-initio, unlawful and against the Constitution.
Meanwhile, another petitioner filed a writ petition before the IHC challenging appointment of Dr Muhammad Ashraf as chairman, Pakistan Council in Research of Water Resources (PCRWR) as according to him, the appointment of chairman could only be made by the Prime Minister that was not done in this case.
The petitioner Asim Riaz Awan Advocate argued before the IHC that Dr Ashraf is holding dual offices in PCRWR one as secretary and the second one as chairman that is violation of the law.
Therefore, he requested the court to inquire the respondents that under what authority and law Dr Ashraf has been holding the offices.
In this matter, Justice Athar Minallah issued notices to the respondents and directed them to submit their reply within fortnight.