ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) on Tuesday challenged Zaka Ashraf’s reinstatement as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), DawnNews reported.

IPC ministry filed a petition challenging Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi’s decision in IHC.

The petition was filed by 13 people, including former PCB chairman Najam Sethi.

The petition was considered null and void on behalf of Asma Jahanagir, the former UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, arbitrary and summary executions.

Court gave its verdict without listening to the arguments of petitioners, said the petitioner.

The court should reinstate the decision of Zaka Ashraf’s removal as PCB chairman, the petitioner added.

Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam also attended the hearing.

Statutory regulatory order

The petitioner argued that the appointment of Ashraf as acting PCB chairman under the statutory regulatory order (SRO), which was declared illegal by IHC, be recognised as a valid and legal instrument.

The petitioner further said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is the patron-in-chief of the PCB and has the authority to make any administrative changes in the cricket board.