ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday issued notices to Secretary Finance Division and Tariq Bajwa in a plea challenging his appointment as Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurengzeb also sought reply from the respondents within a month while hearing a plea moved by 23 Senators through their counsel Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa.
During the course of proceedings, Mr Khosa alleged that the appointment of Tariq Bajwa as Governor SBP dated 7 July 2017 was unlawful and void ab-initio and liable to be set aside.
He alleged that selection of the best person for the job with right qualification and experience had been ignored in the present case.
Though no qualification criteria was laid down in the SBP act but his function and duties as per section 9A and other provisions of SBP act required educational qualification and practical experience and competence in concerned field, he added.
He requested the bench to refrain Mr Tariq from performing duties and function under SBP act with Immediate effect and order to return facilities and benefits enjoyed by him.
He pleaded to seek directions for government to appoint new Governor SBP following the constitutional provision laid down by the Supreme Court in PLD 2016 SC 808 and criterion laid down in PLD 2012 Supreme Court 132 and in other ceses.
23 Senators who were approached IHC were Sanator Taj Haider, leader of the PPP, Islam Uddin Sheikh, Farhat Ullah Babar, Karim Ahmed Khawaja, Sassi Palijo, Saher Kamran, Saeed Ulhassan, Liaqat Khan Taraqap, Yousif Baloch, Hari Ram, Khalida Perveen, Ahmed Hassan, Gian Chand, Mutaza Wahab, Azam Sawati, Tahir Hussain Mushahid, Mauman Wazir, Khushbakht Shujat, Baz M Khan, Nighat Mirza, Farooq H Niak, Saleem Mandviwala, Ilyas Bilour.