ISLAMABAD: Appointment of the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Engineering Development Board has been challenged before the Islamabad High Court through a constitutional petition seeking initiation of quo warranto proceedings against the incumbent office holder.

The IHC single-member bench after preliminary hearing issued notices to the respondents.

The petition was filed by Advocate Supreme Court Mohammad Asif Khan under Article 199 of the Constitution citing respondents the federation through the cabinet division, establishment division, ministry of industries and production and other respondents, including incumbent EDB CEO Hamad Ali Mansoor.

The petitioner contended that the office of the CEO of the EDB was a public office under the federation carrying governmental authority, executive powers and policy responsibilities, therefore its appointment was amenable to judicial scrutiny through a writ in the nature of quo warranto.

According to the petition, the EDB was a body of vital importance for Pakistan’s engineering and manufacturing sector and any illegality or irregularity in the appointment of its chief executive could prejudice public interest and affect institutional governance.

The petitioner stated before the court that he had approached the high court in public interest to ensure transparency in public appointments and legality of occupation of a high public office. The petition maintained that it was not motivated by any personal grievance or pecuniary interest against the respondent.

The plea stated that the Ministry of Industries and Production had initiated the process for appointment to the office of the chief executive officer of the EDB, which is an MP-I scale position in the public sector.

The petitioner requested the court to examine the legality of the appointment and continuation of Mr Mansoor in the office and sought appropriate directions against the respondents.

The federation through the cabinet division, establishment division, Ministry of Industries and Production, the EDB, director general immigration and passports, director general FIA and chairman Higher Education Commission were made respondents in the petition.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2026