ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reinstated Dr Shahid Baig as the Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) on Thursday.

Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz set aside the notification of Aug 7 for suspension of Dr Baig and sending him on a forced leave. She declared the notification as void ab initio.

The ministry had assigned the charge of Chairman PSF to the Joint Secretary Sajjad Ahmed.

Justice Imtiaz in her judgment protected the orders issued by the acting chairman. The judge observed that the PSF Act explained the criteria for the appointment of the chairman but the joint secretary did not possess the required credentials.

The judge noted that the ministry of science and technology was “not empowered to send the petitioner on forced leave or to grant look after charge of the post of chairman PSF to Respondent No 4 [Sajjad]”, adding that the appointing authority President did not delegate the powers for appointing chairman PSF to the federal secretary.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2023