ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a two-page order in black and white on Friday seeking replies from Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Division Secretary, Foreign Affairs Secretary and Attorney General of Pakistan by April 9, 2018, in the case regarding the appointment of Ali Jahangir Siddiqui as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (US).
The single bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah held the hearing of the case. The court has also asked Siddiqui to submit his reply along with other government officials.
The case was filed by Shahzad Siddiq Alvi against the appointment of Siddiqui, who is the son of a business partner of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, on the important slot.
Hassan Aman, the lawyer of the applicant, pleaded the court that the appointment of Siddiqui should be declared null and void as the post of ambassador was only given to him on the basis of nepotism and business partnership of PM. Ali has no past experience in the field of diplomacy, he added.
The next hearing of the case will be held on 9th April.
On April 2, IHC had sought an explanation over Siddiqui’s appointment as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US from the cabinet division secretary, foreign secretary, and prime minister’s principal secretary. A petition was also filed in Lahore High Court (LHC) against the appointment of Siddiqui, saying that the appointment had been made without consulting the federal cabinet.
