LAHORE: Lahore High Court’s Multan Bench on Tuesday issued notices to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and his election commissioner to submit para-wise comments on a constitutional petition seeking suspension of new PCB constitution promulgated in August 2019.

Justice Muzammil Akhtar Shabbir directed PCB chairman Ehsan Mani and PCB election commissioner Afzal Haider to submit para-wise comments on a constitutional petition filed by M. Akbar Khan Chandio, ex-stakeholder of District Cricket Association Dera Ghazi Khan and M. Fida, ex- president of the District Cricket Association Rajanpur.

Senior Advocate Ghulam Abbas appeared before the learned court as counsel for the petitioners with an application for grant of stay to suspend PCB Constitution promulgated on Aug 18, 2019 being illegal and against the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan.

In this constitutional matter, the petitioners challenged PCB Constitution 2019 and former Board of Governors under the 2014 Constitution.

Lengthy arguments were put forward by the counsels of both the contesting parties before the court.

Short of suspending PCB Constitution 2019, Justice Muzammil issued notices to PCB chairman and election commissioner with the direction to submit para-wise comments on the next date of hearing, which will be announced later.

In the petition, it was also appealed to the court that Article 49 of the new PCB constitution be declared null and void.

Article 49 of the PCB Constitution deals with ‘Transitional’ through which president of defunct RCAs would continue to serve on BoGs, the chairman, nominees of the patron appointed, the MD to be re-designated as the CEO etc. shall continue to perform their functions.

The petitioners vehemently termed Article 49 as illegal with no lawful authority particularly when the forum from which BoGs member came had been abolished with PCB chairman not legally entitled to continue on the basis of elections held under the repealed 2014 Constitution and so is the case with MD/CEO.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2020