ISLAMABAD: The government appointed Tahir Shahbaz, a senior bureaucrat, as registrar of the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

According to the PTV, the government has issued a notification about the appointment of Mr Shahbaz. According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court, Dr Faqir Hussain, the incumbent, will retire on March 24 (Monday) after seven years on the job. He has no intention to get another extension, it added.

Mr Shahbaz said he had not yet been informed about his new assignment. “I have heard through the media and some friends that I have been made registrar of the Supreme Court.”

Mr Shahbaz has served in different positions with several government organisations.

Currently he is serving as additional secretary in the Cabinet Division. Prior to that, he served in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Some of his previous positions include joint secretary in the PM’s Office, joint secretary in the law division, secretary of industries, Punjab, chairman of the Capital Development Authority, the district coordination officer, Shikarpur, and the deputy commissioner, Okara.

Dr Faqir Hussain was law secretary when he was given additional charge of the SC registrar on June 30, 2005, the day Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry took oath as chief justice.

He was appointed registrar on contract in 2009 after his retirement as law secretary.

Dr Hussain was given extension twice by the former chief justice.