ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday declared void the appointments and transfers order by Mir Hazar Khan Khoso in his capacity as caretaker prime minister.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, issued the ruling today.

The court moreover said that the federal government had the authority to review and retain the appointments and postings ordered by the caretaker government.

The case was heard by the bench after Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif, who is now a federal minister, had moved a petition against the transfers, postings and deputations of senior government officers.

The bench had earlier reserved its ruling on the petition filed by the senior PML-N leader.

The court had moreover been informed that 442 officers had been posted out, transferred, promoted, terminated or deputed in different departments by Khoso’s caretaker government.