ISLAMABAD: A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the appointment of Maryam Nawaz Sharif as chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Youth Loan Scheme. IHC Justice Athar Minallah will hear the petition.

The petitioner Ashiq Bhatti, through his counsel Yasir Chaudhry, has contended that the Cabinet Division issued the notification appointing Ms Sharif on November 22, 2013, but the notification was not made public.

The Cabinet Division, the petition maintains, has been trying to conceal the notification, which is not available on its website either.

The complainant has argued that the appointment was made without inviting applications and being properly advertised, and has asked the court to inquire from the Cabinet Division why it had exercised its powers in such an arbitrary manner.

He argued that Ms Sharif was appointed to the post by virtue of being the prime minister’s daughter and the appointment reeked of nepotism, adding that her appointment violated the fundamental rights and principles of policy and against the equality of citizens in violation of Article 27 of the Constitution that safeguards against discrimination in services. The appointment was also not made through the commission that was formed in the light of the apex court judgment in the Khawaja Asif case.

The petition alleges that Ms Sharif is still engaged in political activities on behalf of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N): leading political meetings and making statements even after assuming charge as chairperson of the Youth Loan Programme. This, he maintains, is a violation of guidelines laid down by the apex court for public office holders. The petitioner has asked the court to have the Cabinet Division produce a copy of the notification announcing the appointment of Maryam Nawaz Sharif and explain under what law and authority it made the appointment.

The petitioner seeks to have the appointment declared illegal, void ab initio, unlawful and against the Constitution and names the federation of Pakistan, through the Cabinet Division secretary and Maryam Nawaz Sharif as respondents.

Published in Dawn, October 30th , 2014