SC Registrar returns PTI plea against Mohsin Naqvi’s appointment

• SC Registrar returned PTI plea challenging appointment of Mohsin Naqvi
• The court said the petitioner has not approached relevant forum
• PTI has challenged Naqvi’s appointment as Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan has returned an application filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenging the appointment of Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi.

Supreme Court Registrar Office returned the petition filed by PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar after raising several objections to the application.

The apex court registrar said no matter of fundamental rights or public importance has been raised by the petitioner.

It also objected that the petitioner has not approached the relevant forum before filing the plea. Another objection raised was that Asad Umar did not give any proof of being the Secretary General of the party.

Furthermore, the registrar said the chief minister cannot be paid a respondent under Article 248 of the Constitution. It also raised objections over the usage of inappropriate language in preparation of the application.

The PTI had challenged in the Supreme Court the appointment of Mohsin Naqvi as Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister.  The party submitted a petition to restrain him from performing any function regarding the elections and appointing cabinet members.

The PTI argued that Naqvi’s appointment by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was “in direct violation of the provisions of the Constitution read with the provisions of the Elections Act 2017 and the Election Rules 2017”.

The party said the ECP should to be declared “biased” and in violation of the code of conduct prescribed under Article 209 of the Constitution, claiming that it had abused constitutional and statutory powers.

Regarding Naqvi’s appointment, the petition argued that an “individual without any experience of political, constitutional, bureaucratic set-ups has been selected/appointed” to the post.

It stated that Naqvi had no political, administrative and legal experience in ensuring the rule of law and working of governments.

It added the ECP decision was in negation to the mandate of the Constitution. It claimed that the electoral body in “collusion” with Naqvi made massive transfers and postings and brought officials inimical to the presence of PTI. .

The petition also asked to strike down the appointment of Babar Hassan Bharwana and Justice (Retd) Ikramullah Khan as ECP members.

The petition further claimed that Bharwana and Justice Khan were nominated as ECP members through an “artificial process” in gross violation of the Constitution.

It also requested that the appointment of Raja Riaz as the Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly be suspended as it was against the law and without any effect.

It alleged that National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had “exercised mala fide powers” in designating Raja Riaz for the role.

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