ISLAMABAD: The Isla­mabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday stopped Pak­istan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Hanif Abbasi from working as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) until his appointment is reconsidered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

In his petition, Awami Muslim League chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had challenged the appointment on the grounds that Mr Abbasi had been convicted by a special court in Rawalpindi for selling 500kg controlled chemical ephedrine to narcotics smugglers, and requested the court to set aside the appointment notification.

After issuing a restraining order against Mr Abbasi, Justice Minallah asked PM Sharif to reconsider the said appointment. “The worthy Prime Minister is further expected to restrain respondent no.2 [Abbasi] from performing his functions till the date fixed,” the court ruled.

Further hearing in this matter has been adjourned till May 27.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2022