ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday admitted a petition filed by 23 Senators against the appointment of Tariq Bajwa as State Bank (SBP) governor.

IHC judge Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb issued notices to Bajwa and secretary commerce and adjourned the hearing for a month.

The lawmakers from main opposition parties including PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP) filed the petition.

The senators included Taj Haider, Farhatullah Babar, Sassi Palijo, Azam Sawati, Khushbakht Shujat, Farooq H Naik, Ilyas Bilour and 16 others.

Petitioners’ counsel Sardar Latif Khan Khosa requested the court to direct the federal government to appoint a new SBP governor in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Supreme Court in several cases.

In the petition, the counsel said that the unique and specialised character and functions of the SBP required appointment of the best, competent and experienced person as its governor, which could only be possible through open advertisement.

He said this was the only way to preserve the autonomous status of the institution and to ensure its effectiveness.

“Selection of the best person for the job, with the right qualifications and experience, has been ignored in the present case,” Khosa stated in the petition.

“The PML-N government has all along indulged in ruthless violation of the legal requirements and procedures in making appointments and filling vacancies in all the key positions of departments and institutions,” Mr Khosa stated.

He alleged that such methodology was consciously adopted to use them for their personal benefits, self aggrandizement and extract illegal works.

“Head of the SECP is an example in hand who under orders of the Honourable Supreme Court is facing criminal charges,” he said.

Khosa further argued in the petition that the impugned appointment of the SBP governor is illegal, unjustified and whimsical and of no legal effect. He said a resolution was moved in Senate by the combined opposition for immediate removal of the SBP governor.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2017