KARACHI: The Sindh High Court granted time to Sindh government today to file reply on a petition challenging the appointment of excess number of advisers and special assistants by the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
The petitioner Molvi Iqbal Haider had submitted the petition in SHC and said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had appointed more than 15 members of the Sindh Assembly, which makes eleven percent of the total members of the assembly in the Sindh cabinet.
He argued that it was a gross violation of Article 130 (6) of the Constitution that stipulates the government to not exceed the strength of the cabinet from eleven percent of the total membership of the assembly.
He had submitted that the new chief minister on July 30 appointed 17 provincial ministers, advisors and special assistants in the first phase and then he further elevated his cabinet while appointing 9 more ministers and 11 special assistants in the second phase.
After the 18th constitutional amendment, he added, it was clearly directed that the strength of the cabinet would not be more than 11 percent of the total members of the assembly; however the chief minister had appointed 18 provincial ministers along with several advisors and special assistants.
The court was requested to declare the appointment of excess ministers, advisors and special assistants a gross violation of Article 130 (6) of the Constitution.
In the last hearing, the court had directed the provincial law officer to file comment on the petition.
The comment, however, was not filed. A law officer sought time to file reply. The court while granting time adjourned the hearing of the case to October 6.
