CJP takes notice of foreign posting of Shehbaz’s ex-PS

F.P. Report

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday took notice of the appointment of Tauqeer Shah, the former principal secretary to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as Pakistan’s ambassador to World Trade Organization (WTO).

The chief justice, who headed a two-judge bench of the apex court, took cognizance of the matter during hearing of a number of cases at the Lahore registry.

He directed Mr Shah to appear on next hearing to explain his position in this regard and sought a complete record of his appointment from the Secretary Establishment Division.

The court remarked it is said that the judiciary is interfering [in the affairs of the executive], adding that the court will see how transparent the process of his appointment as the country’s ambassador to WTO was.

Chief Justice Nisar asked Khawaja Salman Rafique, who serves as Punjab minister for specialized healthcare and medical education, as to why his face has turned pale over the suo motu notice.

“He remarked that Switzerland is heaven for those having plenty of wealth.”

Meanwhile, the bench wrapped up a sou motu notice case pertaining to alleged contamination in poultry feed and meat after a committee formed to test their quality found no contamination or toxins in them.

The judges were informed that chicken meat was fit for human consumption.

The chief justice thanked Dr Faisal Masood for collecting samples from various shops and preparing a report on poultry feed and meat quality. He expressed satisfaction that poultry feed and meat didn’t contain anything injurious to health.

Also, the apex court suspend the incumbent vice chancellor of the Punjab University for allegedly illegally allotting a piece of the varsity land and directed the provincial authorities to appoint a senior staff member as interim VC.

It also summoned members of the university syndicate who had given go-ahead to the allotment of 80 canal land of the university to the provincial government.

The bench observed it has been proved that the government didn’t appoint permanent VCs to get its demands accepted.

Why a permanent VC had not been appointed over the past two-and-half years, Justice Nisar asked and directed the authorities to apprise it as to who is responsible for this.

Meanwhile, the chief justice directed the Punjab government to appoint a new search committee to search and appoint new permanent VCs of Fatima Jinnah, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi medical universities.