960407

LHC issues notice

to MoST on DG's

appointment

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has issued notice to Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) on a writ petition challenging the appointment of Director-General of the National Institute of Power.

The petition was moved by Dr. Muhammad Nasim of Lahore in which he challenged the appointment of Ashraf Bhatti as DG of the National Institute of Power, Lahore.

It was submitted by the petitioner's Counsel Khawaja Saeed-uz-Zafar that an advertisement appeared in a section of the Press through which applications for the post of DG at NIP were invited. Dr. Nasim, having first Class BSc (Mechanical) Engineering Degree, Masters from England and having specialisation (Ph.D) in Applied Engineering from England, was the highest qualified among the applicants.

Dr. Nasim having 28 years' experience including ten years at WAPDA with electrical engineering background including power planning, power generation, engineer's training, research and development, and maintenance of rotating machinery, was the most suitable candidate for the post, the Counsel submitted.

The petitioner had also more than 14 publications, to his credit in the research journals, while enjoying the status of membership of various well-reputed international engineer's forums. In this background the petitioner became the most qualified person for the said post. But the authorities at the Science and Technology Ministry instead appointed Ashraf Bhatti on the said post who was not even a Ph.D. The petitioner contended that it was a politically motivated appointment, submitted the petitioner Counsel.

It was submitted that the petitioner was not considered for the said post which was sheer negligence with mala-fide intention on the part of the appointing authority.

It was prayed that Ashraf Bhatti may kindly be directed to show under what authority he was holding the office of DG of the NIP, and in the meanwhile the orders of his appointment may kindly be declared illegal and without any lawful authority.

UBL CHIEF SUMMONED

The Lahore High Court has directed the regional chief executive of United Bank Limited, Punjab region to appear before the Court on April 16 and explain why he failed to comply with the Court's orders.

The Court has also restrained him from making any further ad hoc appointment in the bank in the meanwhile.

These directions were issued by the Court on a writ petition filed by Mohammad Tanveer Butt, convenor, All-Pakistan United Bank Muslim Workers Federation through Counsel Rana Ijaz Ahmed Khan.

It was submitted by Tanveer Butt in the writ petition that the bank's administration which had made ad hoc recruitments in the UBL, was making these appointments permanent on political affiliation neglecting all rules and regulations.

It was submitted that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had already declared ad hoc appointments as unconstitutional.

The Counsel for petitioner apprised the Court that the Court had directed the bank to submit written reply within two weeks but the bank had failed to comply with the Court's orders.

The learned Judge took serious notice of the apathy the part of bank authorities and directed the regional chief executive to appear before the Court personally.