ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has summoned all records of the nomination of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf’s son-in-law, Raja Azeem-ul-Haque, as an executive director of the World Bank.

Moreover, the apex court also issued notices to Raja Azeem-ul-Haque, Secretary Establishment and Secretary Finance, summoning them to appear before the court.

The SC had taken suo motu notice of the issue and a three-member bench, headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, was hearing the case here on Wednesday.

Issuing notices to the three parties, the court subsequently adjourned the case for hearing until the second week of January.

Prime Minister Ashraf had appointed his son-in-law to the post by using his discretionary powers, even though some government officials had been critical of the nomination because of Haque’s ‘quick promotions’ within a few years from grade 18 to 21.

According to a report published in Dawn, the finance ministry had also opposed the nomination even though the summary for his appointment was moved by the Economic Affairs Division. Ultimately, the finance ministry had to give in to the wishes of the Prime Minister Secretariat, said the report.

Haque, an officer of the Income Tax Group, was working in grade 18 when the PPP government came into power more than four years ago. He left this job and was hired by the Employees Old-age Benefit Institution in grade 20 about two years ago.

Soon after Raja Pervez Ashraf assumed the PM’s office, he was elevated to grade 21 and has been serving in the Prime Minister Secretariat to date.