SC frowns on Ombudsman appointment process

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Federal Ombudsman Secretary to submit details of all appointments made since its inception in 1983.

The court expressed surprise at the Ombudsman office’s appointment process, remarking that no office could issue notifications of its head on its own, it could only be done by the lawful authority.

A three judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Gulzar Ahmed was hearing the petition filed by Transparency International Pakistan’s head Syed Adil Gilani Pakistan.

During the proceedings, Wasim Sajjad, Federal Ombudsman Salman Farooqui’s counsel, requested for more time as his client was abroad for his wife’s medical check-up.

Secretary General Qazi Imtiaz told the court that Salman Farooqui had assumed charge as Federal Ombudsman on March 1 and clarified that the statement issued by the Ombudsman office was not a notification but a statement made on assumption of office.

However, the bench expressed dissatisfaction over the reply and stated that a department head could not issue notification himself as Farooqui did, adding that there was no precedent for this.

The bench directed Imtiaz to submit all details of appointments of Federal Ombudsman since 1983 to the Registrar Office.

The court adjourned the hearing till June 20 on Wasim Sajjad’s request.