LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday expressed dismay over non-submission of a reply by the ministry of foreign affairs on a petition questioning appointment of Ali Jahangir Siddiqui as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US.

Earlier, a law officer sought more time from the court for the submission of the reply on behalf of the ministry.

Being irked by the adjournment request, Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh observed that the government departments had been in a habit of doing no work.

The judge told the law officer that foreign affairs secretary would be summoned if the reply was not submitted on the next hearing.

Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree had filed the petition pleading that Mr Siddiqui was appointed as ambassador without the mandatory approval of the federal cabinet. He said the appointee lacked relevant experience in diplomacy. He asked the court to set aside appointment of the respondent as ambassador to the US.

Ali Jahangir Siddiqui, son of business tycoon Jahangir Siddiqui, who owns JS Bank and JS Private Equity, is also facing NAB investigation for alleged financial misappropriation and had been summoned by the bureau.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2018