The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday allowed State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Deputy Governor Ashraf Wathra to continue his job, which he had been barred from continuing last Thursday.
During the hearing of a petition moved against the appointment, the counsel of the Election Commission of Pakistan said the commission had no objection over the appointment as it was an administrative matter of the central bank. On this, the LHC allowed Wathra to continue his job as deputy governor of the SBP.
On Thursday, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah restrained Wathra from working as the deputy SBP governor while hearing a petition seeking implementation of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution in order to stop ineligible candidates from contesting upcoming polls and challenging all appointments made by federal and provincial governments in violation of a ban imposed by Election Commission of Pakistan.
In his remarks, Justice Shah had observed, “These are pre-election rigging techniques.” He also expressed wonder at the impugned appointment after constitutional directions issued by the ECP.
The SBP’s counsel argued that the bank had nothing to do with the appointment as the former prime minister being lawful authority made the appointment. He sought time to file a reply on the matter and requested the court to adjourn hearing till Monday. However, he withdrew his request when the judge remarked that the suspension of deputy governor would continue till next hearing.
Contesting the petition to the extent of implementation of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, the ECP counsel argued that almost 20 per cent scrutiny of nomination papers had been completed and the proceedings of the instant case could delay the election.
Rejecting the argument, Justice Shah observed, “There is no harm if scrutiny process gets delayed but no ineligible person should be allowed to sit in the assemblies.”
