The Supreme Court of Pakistan will resume on April 17, hearings of irregularities in the Port Qasim Authority appointments (PQA) case pertaining to 686 illegal appointments from Grade 2 to 21 in PQA by the Ports and Shipping Ministry. The court would also resume hearing of a petition of sacked secretary of PQA, Abdul Jabbar Memon challenging his removal. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will hear the case about 686 illegal appointments. Notices have been issued to the Attorney General of Pakistan, Advocate General Sindh, Advocate Anwar Mansoor Khan and the Chief Secretary Sindh to appear before the court. Earlier in December 2012, the Supreme Court was informed that more than 250 new appointments had been made in the PQA from Grade 2 to Grade 19 despite a stay order issued by the apex court after 686 illegal appointments from Grade 2 to 21 were made in the authority last year. The SC had already declared that majority of these appointments were made from specific constituencies and these should be declared illegal and a new advertisement should be made in this regard as the appointments were against provincial, regional quota and merit policy.