ISLAMABAD   -  The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday turned down a petition filed against the appointment of Director General (DG) Intelligence Bureau (IB) Dr. Suleiman Khan.

A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah dismissed the petition moved by a former IB officer Jameel Qureshi terming it inadmissible. 

Justice Athar remarked that the courts should do their job and could not interfere in the work of the executives. He said the petitioner had no right to make a claim against the appointment of Intelligence Bureau DG and in no way the petitioner was affected by the appointment. Former IB officer Qureshi moved the court through his counsel Tariq Muhammad Khan Marawat Advocate and challenged the appointment of DG Dr Suleiman Khan.

The petitioner adopted in his petition that Dr Suleiman is not eligible and does not fulfill the criteria of the post and a NAB reference is also pending against him.

He alleged that Dr Suleiman is involved in Rs2.8 billion corruption of KP substandard police bullet-proof jackets and ammunition scam and kept his NAB inquiry case pending for over five years by using his authority and influence. 

The petitioner stated that the said appointment is illegal, unlawful, unjust and against the law and is sheer violation of the verdicts of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Therefore, he prayed to the court that his appointment should be declared null and void and his appointment may be declared illegal. Qureshi petitioned that since Dr. Suleiman’s appointment was against law, he should be removed from the post of DG.

In May 2018, the federal government appointed Dr. Muhammad Suleiman Khan as the head of IB of the Civil Intelligence Agency. He had earlier held the post of Joint Director General in IB. He was promoted from Grade 21 to 22 and appointed as Director General IB.