59
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the federal government on Wednesday to apprise it about the legal status of the loan programme and criterion for the appointment of its head.
Justice Manzoor Ali Shah in a petition challenging the appointment of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif as chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Youth Loan Programme, said the government needed to explain under what law the public money was being used for political purposes.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Zubair Niazi filed the petition, saying the impugned appointment was a result of sheer nepotism.
Justice Shah also expressed concern over the control of public money given to an individual of the ruling family.
The judge adjourned hearing till Oct 30 and directed a federal law officer to come up with instructions from the government on the points raised in the petition.
The judge also sought personal appearance of any responsible representative of the loan programme on the next date.
Earlier, petitioner’s counsel Sheraz Zaka said the prime minister had violated the Constitution and set rules in appointment of his daughter as head of the loan programme. Neither a public notice nor an advertisement was issued before the appointment, he added.
Also read: What counts with PML-N and PPP
The counsel asked the court to set aside the appointment of Ms Sharif as chairperson of the programme.
PLEA DISMISSED: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition of PML-N MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar assailing inspection of ballots in PP-160, Lahore, ordered by an election tribunal.
The petitioner, through his counsel, contended that the tribunal constituted a commission to hold inspection of the record on a plea moved by PTI’s defeated candidate Zaheer Abbas Khokhar.
The counsel said the tribunal had limited powers under the Representative of Peoples Act and could not appoint a commission for scrutiny of ballots. He asked the court to set aside the tribunal orders.
However, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah dismissed the petition for being not maintainable. The judge observed that interim orders of election tribunals could not be assailed before the high court.
Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2014
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (59) Closed
Oct 23, 2014 07:08am
PM abusing nations treasury and benefiting his own family. First stole nation's mandate, then kept 12 plus ministries with him, some ministries were awarded to close family members and friends. So that he can abuse the power for the benefit of his personal and family gain. How long this nation will be slaved for these people.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 07:25am
Poor Court. The only criteria is that Pakistan is hostage to PML-N and PPP.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 07:38am
Public funds and party workers with family member as a head. May be "conflict of interest" is not applicable in Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 07:52am
lol, only friends and family. God I can't wait for this Sharif family to be gone once and for all. Musharraf messed up big time.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 08:03am
Justice Sahib, really you don't know what is the criteria? I tell you, the criteria was she is the daughter of King Nawaz Sharif...
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 08:10am
Criteria ?!?!? Isn't being daughter of the P.M enough already ? By the way, LHC is a joke and sold judiciary.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 08:16am
Clear conflict of interest this so what IK is educating the nation about Maryam NAwaz should be dismissed from this postition
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 08:20am
Would be verdict from LHC:
"Being the only daughter of the Ruler of Raiwind and PM of Pakistan, His Excellency Nawaz Sharif, the proud owner of the heavy mandate. The honorable Judge found that the appointment of Princes Maryam Nawaz-Safdar as most appropriate to lead the loan programme."
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 08:25am
Thieves...these are thieves..they think they own the country.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 08:27am
finally.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 08:38am
Sharif family has got smarter now. With the JUDGE of LAHORE high court, the decision on October 30 will legalize the position of Maryam Nawaz thereby officially justifying nepotism in the country!!!!
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 08:51am
PMLNs time is over.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 08:55am
waste of time...verdict will be according to wish of MNS
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 09:25am
Andher nagri chopat raaj.
The dont think anyone else to be trustworthy enough.........i guess.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 09:26am
Good, all nepotism should be wiped out using proper channels.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 09:28am
Such acts do not sadden me - what deeply saddens me is that these people still have supporters.
We as a nation are mentally paralyzed!
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 09:29am
Anything is possible in this country. You need not to meet a criteria to get a post. Only allegiance to the royal families is required
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 09:30am
Hey, who let the thieves in the house?
You deserve them if you let them inside for the third time Pakistan. The tag team rape of the country goes on by Bhuttos and Sharifs while the referee seems to be sold to the highest bidder.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 09:40am
Please court do your best part. Raise your bid to get more money from ruling government and then dismiss the case. Our nation get so excited for such kind of cases but totally disturbed as there would be no outcome.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 09:51am
My advice to judges if you are scared, pass these cases to military court for honest and quick verdict.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 09:56am
She is the daughter of the emperor. This is what matters. Period.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 09:59am
Her appointment is not illegal but ethically wrong. This case shouldn't bring any fruit. The issue shall have been brought uproar in the parliament but you know who is in there. Therefore, pin drop silence in the parliament for the sake of corruption (democracy)
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 10:05am
Atleast justice showed the courage and challenge ruling elite authority.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 10:20am
Nawaz sharif daughter.how you dare to ask.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 10:36am
Wake up fellows.Dont give this system to Our next generation.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 11:03am
These decisions by PMLN of favouring family members is something unacceptable. PMLN's policies are somewhat better than PPP but assigning multi-billion projects to your son/daughter is intolerable Mian Sahab.
A good decision by the court. A professional must be assigned to all such projects including this one.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 11:05am
@Danish Haider
hahaha...well said.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 11:16am
How long responsible authorities wait for this ship (Pakistan) to sink? It is already 50% sunk during 5 years ppp regime. If you compare with Sri Linka, even there is no comparison. Judges are sold out, you can buy every thing here, as Zardari and Nawaz looting and buying every thing. What a HEIGHT of corruption, a Billionaire gifted Billion Rupee house to Zardari in day light, and Thousands were gathered in ppp Jalsa all over Sindh. What a ignorance?
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 11:29am
All the Courts are also N Courts
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 11:32am
While Zardari has always been the master of kickbacks the Shariffs favourite method has always been loans to friends and family which are later written off. It was the same in 1999.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 12:13pm
@FARHAN WADOOD sahab PMLN is not a political party but a family enterprise. 25 million children are not going to school in a country of 180 million. Shame on this democracy.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 12:23pm
What else can you expect from Nawaz Sharif ? The next step is appointment of his wife, Kalsoom. Shame on Sharifs.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 12:28pm
@Danish Haider Where is Captain Safdar now. Why he's not appointed as assistant to Maryam Nawaz.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:02pm
The irony is!!!! how unfair the fate which ordains that those who have the least should be always adding to the treasury of the wealthy.... wake up Pakistan your prosperity cannot be restored by raids upon the public Treasury.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:04pm
@This not kingdom, public money should be given to public figure, like Edhi, Ansar Barney type people, If Princes Mariam Sharif want to serve nation why not spent her father HRH Nawaz Money. Request to Justice Sahib pls remove her from post and save national money and nominate some public figure for the above post.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:11pm
@Syed I couldn't agree with you more. Even though I feel for every single person in Pakistan subjected to injustice but then I have no sympathies for them, since no one stands up for others. there are millions who will still come out and support such decisions knowing that there are hundreds of more deserving people. But we have become morally and like you said mentally corrupt to this level that we have forgot to distinguish between good and bad and is the very reason we as a nation are suffering. everyone of us including myself trying our best to gather as much as possible even on behest of someone's misery.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:35pm
He is a legitimate PM of Pakistan and he can appoint any one he wants. He was elected by the people not by Twitter.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:35pm
PTI filled petition for this issue. This is what PTI should do by remaining in apposition. This is what they should have been doing instead of damaging country due to baseless sit-ins from which they will not get anything in return. Instead at the end they will also loose their value and trust and this country would loose a good resource in politics i.e. IK who could have played good role for Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:39pm
Do you actually think court will charge Nawaz for unlawful appointment?
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:40pm
@Jaffar ali khan it is worst than kingdom... it is king dumb
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:43pm
@Hasan Hasni The appointment is not only unethical but also illegal. For any public post there is requirement of advertising the post and then have a proper recruitment process. Nothing was followed here.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:52pm
Shareef khandan's rule is the biggest national security risk to the People of Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 01:55pm
Simple case which may be concluded in on hearing. Now, we will have to wait for at least three years for simple decision.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 02:30pm
Great Order by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court. Use of public money for political self-promotion and appointment of family members in public positions is so rife now that it seems to be reviled and yet taken for granted. Hope this results in something concrete though and Maryam Nawaz Sharif is removed from the position so that a precedent is set. Otherwise it will once again be business as usual
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 03:03pm
She is the daughter of PM and niece of CM Punjab.
What else do you people wanted?
Is there anyone with more qualification than this lady has?
She is still more qualified than her cousins Hamza and Salman. I won't be surprise if she become Chairperson of NFC, State bank and each and every financial funds and institutions of my country.
Keep it up twitter babe! likes of Gullu Butts and Pomi Butts are behind you
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 03:22pm
Criteria for her appointment? She is an important member of Sharif Khandan, she deserves it. ;)
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 03:24pm
Wow. PML-N MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar is so scared of recounting of ballot papers? It shows you why IK is right about rigging.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 03:29pm
@Danish Haider , very nicely put.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 03:30pm
@Yasir Khan , really hope so.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 04:02pm
Every single appointment of a relative need to be challenged and the Courts need to see if the qualification matched the needs of that Office if npt then they should be terminated and the position be ADVERTISED.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 05:57pm
Maryam of Lahore would not reach the heights of Helen of Troy even with the help of the King Nawaz of Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 11:38pm
@Syed ... Very well said ... this is the root of all problems ... That is is these feudals in PMLN , PPP etc still have public support !!!
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 11:41pm
@HAIDER ... The judge didn't show any courage (yet) ... he is just responding to the the petition filed by PTI ... the only party who seems to have courage to challenge the neptism of King sharif and co. Let's see how this case unfolds ... but this should be definitely bring an uproar in the assembly and talk shows !
Recommend
0
Oct 23, 2014 11:50pm
how dare someone question the criteria for hiring her?? she is the kings daughter!! period.
Recommend
0
Oct 24, 2014 01:03am
Such a rhetorical question!
Our expectations from this judiciary are very low.
Recommend
0
Oct 24, 2014 01:31am
Reminds me of Musharraf's daughter tasked with park project in Karachi. The only difference is that Musharraf wasn't elected but seized power. At least an elected official can be voted out at the time of the next elections if their performance and behavior is bad.
Recommend
0
Oct 24, 2014 03:07am
Hain, you call it public money?
Recommend
0
Oct 24, 2014 06:26am
@I. Ahmed you hit the bulls eye
wait for another monumental judicial appropriation
as they did with coruption case over Hudaibia mills case
I think sharif family breaks zardari s nepotism records by a huge margin. Excellent. ...
Recommend
0
Oct 24, 2014 06:34am
Can someone also ask under what rules and circumstances has government appointed Hanif Abbasi chairman of Metro project in Rawalpindi.
Don't we have elected MNAs MPAs or senator s in the constituencies where this project is being established ?
Recommend
0
