Says PM’s advisor has been court martialled, so he cannot hold public office
Says government was aware of the court martial beforehand but chose not to mention it in the summary
Supreme Court (SC) has stopped Advisor to Prime Minister (PM) on Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Shujaat Azeem from working as minister and in charge of CAA.
The court has also ordered attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to file original summaries on induction of Shujaat Azeem despite his court martial and its legal and constitutional implications by February 16.
“When the order has already been issued about Shujaat Azeem that he would not exercise powers independently and would not hold status equal to minister, then why is he still exercising these powers?” Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked. “No mention was made about the court martial in the summaries. Sacking of government officials and disqualification of public representatives are two different things. No public office can be given to a government employee after he has been sacked.”
“How can a public office be given to a person who has been court martialled?” Justice Dost Muhammad asked.
A three-member bench of SC presided over by Justice Amir Hani Muslim took up the case for hearing on Friday.
Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Suleman Butt appeared in the court and said that proper time was not given by the court to file a petition.
Justice Amir Hani Muslim asked for the summary under which Azeem was appointed advisor.
“We have felt that court the martial has not been talked about in the summary,” he remarked.
The court asked for three other summaries including the CAA summary to be presented before it. “Who has prepared these summaries and on whose behest these summaries have been prepared? We want to review all of them,” the court remarked, and added, “He has held a press conference while the matter is sub judice.”
“He could not be appointed to this post after he was sacked from the Air Force,” Justice Amir Hani Muslim said. “The way the summary has been sent is completely in violation of rules and regulations. It seems from the summary that he was appointed to the post even though all the facts were known.”
Makhdoom Ali Khan said that if any person who is court martialled and is sacked cannot be appointed to public office then it will apply to all federal ministers and parliamentarians.
But Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked that “elected members of assembly and termination from government service are two separate matters”.
Justice Dost Muhammad asked that if a government employee is sacked due to misconduct then, can he be appointed to such top public office.
Makhdoom said that he cannot be appointed a civil servant.
Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi said that the court had restrained him from performing his duties. He said that he had given interview to a private TV channel.
“We have not stopped him from giving interviews. But he cannot talk about court’s matters,” the court remarked.
The court issued notices to Shujaat Azeem on the new application of Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi.
All this is reflective of th class of rulers ,catapulted in the corridors of power who are so naeive that they can't probe the background of a person whom they are appointing to the August office of a Federal minister or an Advisor to P.M or the rulers AR so intoxicated by power that they think that don't have to govern by any rule of follow the constitution but can go by their wishes.
Not the first time that Supreme Court of Pakistan has stopped the blue-eyed boy of the PM to perform duties. Some say he is the brain behind the frustration and instigation of the PIA workers and privatization of the Airline. Dekhen oont kis karwat baith-ta hai.
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