ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court(IHC)  dismissed the petition filed against the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

Chief Justice Amer Farooq dismissed the petition as inadmissible. After hearing the arguments this morning, the court had reserved its decision on the petition being admissible.

Petitioner Akmal Khan Bari filed the petition through Sardar Latif Khosa.

Petitioner Akram Bari appeared in court with his lawyer.

Chief Justice Amer Farooq heard the case. Petitioner Akram Bari appeared in court with his lawyer.

The lawyer took the position that Sikandar Sultan Raja was a serving bureaucrat when he was appointed, according to the Supreme Court decision, senior civil servants cannot be appointed, retired officers of grade 22 can be appointed, current or former judges of the Supreme Court can also be appointed.

The counsel for the petitioner Karam Bari submitted that amendment was done in 2016 and then the further amendment was made. He stated after amendment a retired officer was appointed, because the retired officer is not subordinate to anyone,  however the Chief Election Commissioner is a serving employee.

Chief Justice Aamir Farooq inquired that you put something in it and how do you know that this happened. The lawyer replied to the application saying that it is on their website.

The Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court said, prove something.

The lawyer replied to the application that give him time.  Election Commission’s lawyer came to the rostrum without notice and told the court that I have a notification of retirement before becoming the Chief Election Commissioner.

Chief Justice Amir Farooq while talking to the lawyer of the Election Commission said that you have not been called or noticed yet, you seem to be in a hurry.

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ECP lawyer replied that he was made Chief Election Commissioner on January 24, 2020 and he had retired in November 2019. On this, the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court said that he had retired before joining as CEC.