LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Thursday sought replies from the federal government and its law ministry on an intra court appeal (ICA) challenging the appointment of Senator Ishaq Dar as deputy prime minister.

Woman activist Ashba Kamram filed the appeal as a single bench of the LHC had dismissed her writ petition against the appointment of the deputy PM.

The two-judge bench, headed by Justice Chaudhry Iqbal, heard the appeal and directed a federal government’s counsel to submit written replies on behalf of the respondents within a fortnight.

The appellant argues that there is no provision in the Constitution for the office of deputy prime minister. She says the respondent was appointed merely through a notification issued by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

She states the deputy PM is considered a deputy to the PM, who is elected by members of the National Assembly through a vote.

Therefore, as a Senator, Ishaq Dar cannot hold the position of the deputy PM, she adds.

The activist asks the division bench to declare Senator Dar’s appointment as deputy PM unconstitutional and also set aside the decision of the single bench about dismissal of her petition.

Before the single bench, a federal law officer had opposed the maintainability of the writ petition, saying the petitioner had no locus standi to assail the appointment. He argued that there was no illegality in the appointment of Senator Dar.

The bench had on May 16 dismissed the petition for being not maintainable.

The cabinet division on April 28 issued a notification giving additional charge of deputy prime minister to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

According to the notification, the appointment was made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “with immediate effect and until further orders”.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2024