Saving people’s jobs govt responsibility, says IHC

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday observed that saving people's jobs is government's responsibility. The IHC maintained a stay order against the removal of chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and sought replies from federal minister Ali Zaidi and secretary maritime. Chief Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing into a petition moved by the KPT's chairman against his removal by the ministry. Additional Attorney General (AAG) Tariq Mehmood Khokhar appeared before the bench on behalf of the federation and pleaded that there were two notifications of appointment of the chairman KPT. The appointment tenure was of two years in accordance with the first notification of 2017. The chief justice asked whether the federal minister concerned was authorised to interfere in the affairs of appointment and remarked that it was a serious question. He said it was an admitted fact that the appointment was made for three years. The officials of maritime ministry adopted the stance that Federal Minister Ali Zaidi had ordered an audit of the department to which the chief justice asked under which law he had ordered the audit. Justice Minallah said the ministry was giving baseless arguments, adding that most of the cases of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were related to misuse of power. He asked the ministry to review the matter.

The court sought written comments from the secretary ministry and federal minister pertaining to the matter and adjourned hearing till April 16.