The appointment of acting Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi has been challenged in the Islamabad High Court with the petitioner claiming that the decision was politically motivated.
According to reports, Abdullah Tahir, an amateur cricketer, yesterday filed a petition against Sethi’s appointment which he claims was in violation of the PCB constitution.
Interestingly, the plea was filed in the same court where a complaint was filed against Sethi’s predecessor, Zaka Ashraf, leading to his suspension from the Chairman’s post.
The Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) had also termed the nomination contrary to PCB’s constitution.
Sethi, a senior journalist, was appointed by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to temporarily fill the post left vacant by Ashraf.
The IHC judge, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had earlier stopped Ashraf from performing his duties, and had directed the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) to appoint an interim chairman.
Sethi, 65, had recently served as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab and oversaw the May general elections in the province.
Tahir has requested the court to declare the appointment as illegal, and pass an order for recruitment of a professional from the relevant field.
The court will decide on July 1 whether or not to admit the petition for hearing.