ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices on Tuesday to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and others, seeking replies by June 12 on petitions challenging the former’s appointment as deputy prime minister.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the pleas filed by petitioners Fahad Shabbir and PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat.
Other concerned officials issued notices in the case included the secretary to the prime minister and cabinet secretary. Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan was also issued a notice seeking his judicial assistance.
Shabbir’s lawyer Nadeem Sarwar appeared before the court. The IHC CJ asked him if the Lahore High Court (LHC) had not settled the matter. “I think I saw it in the media,” he said. The counsel replied that even if the matter had been settled by the LHC, it fell under the IHC’s jurisdiction.
“This is exactly what I am saying. The case has been decided. You should check it. Do you understand English?” Justice Farooq remarked.
He then asked Marwat’s lawyer, Riaz Rahi, for the grounds of his plea. “There are four grounds, as you can see in the notification,” the counsel replied.
He stated that there was no scope for an executive order, asserting that one person cannot hold two positions.
“The prime minister is elected through an election, whereas the deputy prime minister has been chosen through an executive order,” Marwat’s lawyer added.
Referring to former dictator Pervez Musharraf’s case he said, “This court made a clear order regarding two charges. The chief commissioner also holds two charges; that has also been challenged.”
Following these remarks, the court issued notices to the relevant parties and sought their replies by June 12.
Last month, Dar, also serving as the foreign minister, was elevated to the position of deputy prime minister by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. There was no explanation as to what prompted Shehbaz to elevate Dar.
As per the notification issued by the government, Dar would remain the foreign minister, while performing the role of PM Shehbaz’s deputy.
Soon Dar’s appointment was challenged by citizen Fahad Shabbir, noting that the appointment as the deputy PM was in violation of Article 4 of the Constitution. He prayed to the court to nullify the notification of his appointment and bar him from working in the capacity of the deputy PM till the conclusion of the case.
A day later, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Sher Afzal Khan Marwat also challenged Dar’s new role. Marwat requested the court to set aside the notification appointing Dar as the deputy PM by declaring it “as without lawful authority”.
Earlier, on May 17, the LHC dismissed a plea challenging the appointment, declaring it inadmissible. However, the Sindh High Court issued notices to the government officials on a similar petition seeking their responses by May 30. –Agencies
