ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday sought comments from the secretaries law and justice and establishment on a petition filed against the appointment of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB)chairman.

The federal government appointed Pakistan Muslim League’s-Nawaz (PML-N) chief coordinator Siddiqul Farooq as ETPB chairman this month.

The petition was filed by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator Babar Awan.

The ETPB was constituted by the Federal Government under the Evacuee Trust Properties (Management & Disposal) Act, 1975. It is a key government department that administers properties left behind by Hindus, Sikhs and others who migrated to India after partition, as well as places of worship and the religious sites of minorities located in Pakistan.

IHC Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition. Senator Awan adopted before the court that Supreme Court in the case of Khwaja Muhammad Asif directed the federal government to fill the key appointments in the public sector organisations through a commission.

He said that Mr Farooq, the incumbent chairman ETPB and a close associate of the present regime, appointment had been made without adhering to the principles laid down in the judgment passed by Supreme Court in the light of Khwaja Asif’s case.

Awan alleged that Mr Farooq was still involved in political activities and leading processions and rallies in favour and on behalf of the PML-N even after assuming the charge which was clearly in violation of guidelines laid down by the apex court for public office holder.

Moreover, he said the appointment had been made without inviting applications from the prospective candidates thus violating the basic human rights, Awan added.

He pointed out that IHC had upheld the above said principal in many cases including in the case of appointment of Yousaf Baig Mirza as Managing Director PTV.

Senator Awan requested the court to declare the appointment of Mr Farooq as chairman ETPB as illegal.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014