ISLAMABAD: The government through the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) on Thursday challenged before the Supreme Court Zaka Ashraf’s reinstatement as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman.

The appeal was filed by advocate Asma Jehangir, challenging the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Jan 14, 2014 verdict that had set aside the government’s statutory order of appointing television anchor and columnist Najam Sethi as acting PCB chairman.

The case was fixed before Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja at his chamber for Friday.

The PCB Board of Governors on May 8, 2013 had appointed Zaka as chairman resulting in the institution of a petition filed by retired Major Ahmed Nadeem Sadal before the IHC.

On May 28, 2013, the IHC restrained Zaka from acting and performing duties as PCB chairman. The IHC also ordered the government to appoint acting chairman, resulting in the appointment of Sethi.

The petitioner argued that Oct 14, 2013 statutory regulatory order (SRO) (1) 2013 of appointing Sethi as acting PCB chairman, which was declared illegal by the IHC, be recognised as a valid and legal instrument.

It also pleaded the apex court to recognise authority of the petitioner (Ministry of IPC) and order implementation of the SRO as well as the Jan 10, 2014 notification of extending the services of Sethi as acting chairman.

The petitioner also asked to restrain Zaka from performing as well as taking action, in the affairs of the cricket board, as chairman.

Otherwise extreme damage and harm could come to the PCB that would be in direct contravention of the appointment (of Sethi) through legal instrument that so far hold the field.

The petition alleged that even before the government received the detailed IHC judgment, Zaka took physical control of the PCB and started a process of vendetta through arbitrary hiring and firing, thus unleashing a chaotic situation in the Board.