Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry sought reply to a petition challenging political-based appointment of Zaka Ashraf as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, within three weeks, from the federal sports secretary on Wednesday. Hearing the petition filed by Tariq Asad, the CJ contended that Zaka lacked the professional experience to be appointed as the PCB chairman and that he was hired based on nepotism and political favouritism which violates International Cricket Council (ICC) by-laws. The federal sports secretary and PCB chairman have been made respondents in the petition submitting that cricket boards around the world were run by independent governing bodies whereas the government was controlling the cricket board in Pakistan. Arguing his case, Asad said Zaka’s appointment on political basis would ruin cricket and ideals of meritocracy further, which in turn would harm the country’s image in the cricketing world. He referred to the performance of former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, who lacked professionalism in his policies and actions and destroyed cricketing traditions through his bad management. Referring to ICC rules and regulations, the petitioner said no politically motivated appointments could be made in PCB as it was bound to follow ICC rules to qualify for international cricket. The petitioner prayed to the court that Article 5 of PCB’s constitution should be declared beyond power of the country’s and ICC’s constitutions. He pleaded that the federal government should be directed to follow ICC by-laws and to frame a democratic constitution for PCB (or to amend Article 5) so that all office-bearers be appointed by election and not selection. Asad also prayed to set aside Zaka Ashraf’s appointment as the PCB chairman. After hearing the arguments, the CJ handed a copy of the petition over to a deputy attorney general and ordered him to get report and parawise comments from the federal sports secretary on the petition within three weeks.
