ISLAMABAD: Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued notice to the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) on a petition filed by a citizen against the appointment of Chairman, Press Council of Pakistan (PCP).

Advocate Salahudin Mengal was appointed Chairman PCP in March last year for a period of three years.

According to the petition, his post was neither advertised, nor was competitive process followed in his appointment. Besides, the incumbent PCP chairman is taking salary equivalent to the judge of the Supreme Court.

The petitioner contended before the court that service rules and regulations of the PCP has not been approved by the Federal Cabinet therefore under the set practice, Mengal could only claim salary of Management Pay scale – I (MP-I) only.

According to him, the previous chairmen PCP who took salaries equivalent to the judge of the Supreme Court were the serving or retired judges of the superior courts therefore, they were entitled to get the salaries as per their pay scale.

Since Mr Mengal was a lawyer before his appointment therefore, he could not claim the salary of the Supreme Court judge, the petition added.

IHC Justice Siddiqui after hearing the initial arguments issued notice to the AGP and adjourned hearing till a date to be fixed by the registrar office.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2017