KARACHI: A petition was filed in the Sindh High Court on Monday impugning the appointment of retired Justice Maqbool Baqar as the caretaker chief minister of Sindh.

Advocate Mohammad Ibrahim Abro petitioned the SHC and contended that Justice Baqar got retired as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court on April 4, thus he could not hold any office of profit within the period of two years from his retirement as described in the Constitution.

Citing the federal cabinet secretary, Sindh governor, chief secretary, principal secretary to chief minister and secretary of the law department as respondents, the petitioner submitted that Article 207 (judge not to hold office of profit, etc.) of the Constitution barred Justice Baqar from taking over as the caretaker chief minister till the completion of two years since his retirement.

He argued that despite having such a legal position, the respondents appointed Justice Baqar, who sworn in on Aug 17 as caretaker CM of Sindh in violation of Article 207.

The petitioner sought directives for the respondents to remove the caretaker CM forthwith and also pleaded for an interim order to restrain Justice Baqar from continuing and performing his function as caretaker chief minister of Sindh.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2023