ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday issued notices to officials concerned in a petition challenging the appointment of the rector of National School of Public Policy (NSPP).

Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi directed the rector, chairman of the NSPP board of governors, secretary establishment division and principal secretary to the prime minister to submit their written comments till January 24 explaining the appointment of Ismail Qureshi on the post.

Advocate Saleemullah Khan, a retired police officer, in his petition has challenged the December 1, 2010, notification of the prime minister appointing Ismail Qureshi as Rector of NSPP.

Earlier, IHC Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman refused to hear the petition citing personal reasons and transferred the petition to Justice Kasi.

The petitioner said Mr Qureshi was also serving as secretary establishment division in violation of civil service rules and regulations. Under the relevant rules, he added, a retired bureaucrat could only be re-employed in public interest.

“Interestingly, the NSPP BoG selected the rector as its member when he was already a member as secretary establishment division,” the petitioner stated. According to the natural justice laws, no one can be the judge in one's own case but Mr Qureshi has himself recommended his appointment as the rector of NSPP, he added.

Furthermore, the post was not properly advertised after the retirement of Gen (retired) Javed Hassan, Advocate Khan said.

“Ismail Qureshi attained the age of superannuation in 2009 and was given two years' contractual extension as secretary establishment and before his contract expired on March 10, 2011, he has been appointed as Rector NSPP,” the petitioner said.

The summary sent to the PM recommending the name of Mr Qureshi as Rector NSPP was signed by Qureshi himself in his capacity as secretary establishment division.

The petitioner also alleged that Mr Qureshi as secretary establishment had been involved in many controversial decisions about various appointments.

Advocate Khan said almost all in-service training institutions namely the Pakistan Administrative Staff College, the Civil Services Academy and the All Pakistan National Institute of Public Administration were clubbed together under the nomenclature of NSPP.

The petition prayed the court to direct Mr Qurehsi to explain under what law he was holding the office of NSPP rector, and set side his appointment as unlawful.