SC declares the verdict delivered by Saqib Nisar regarding the appointment of ex-chairman PTV Ataul Haq Qasmi as null & void
Also put aside observations given by Saqib Nisar against Pervaiz Rashid, Ishaq Dar & Fawad Hassan Fawad
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared the verdict delivered by former chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar regarding appointment of former chairman of Pakistan Television (PTV) Attaul Haq Qasmi as null and void.
The court also put aside observations given by Saqib Nisar against Pervaiz Rashid, Ishaq Dar and Fawad Hassan Fawad. The court termed no corruption or nepotism was proved in chairman PTV appointment case. The court also ended restriction of appointment of Ataul Haq Qasmi as director in any government institution in future whereas CJP Justice Qazi Faez Esa remarked that how this matter was taken up before the Supreme Court of Pakistan and why the court took notice of it. How this matter falls under the jurisdiction of Article 184-3 of the Constitution, where it is written that this is matter of public importance.
A three-member bench headed by CJP Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Naeem Akhtar Afghan conducted hearing on review petitions filed by Attaul Haq Qasmi, Ishaq Dar, Pervez Rashid and Fawad Hassan Fawad against the verdict of Supreme Court of Pakistan rendered in 2018.
Senior lawyer Barrister Muhammad Akram Sheikh appeared on behalf of Attaul Haq Qasmi, Barrister Zafarullah Khan on behalf of Pervez Rashid, former attorney general Salman Aslam Butt on behalf of Ishaq Dar, Muhamma Nazeer Jawad on behalf of PTV and Fawad Hassan Fawad appeared in personal capacity.
At the start of hearing CJP asked who is appearing on behalf of PTV. To this, Muhammad Nazeer Jawad came on rostrum and said he is appearing on behalf of PTV and that he has no objection on the review petitions. Justice Irfan Saadat Khan said who will pay the money.
To this Zafarullah Khan said Pervez Rashid will pay 20 percent of the total money. The Chief Justice asked why Attaul Haq Qasmi resigned. To this, Akram Sheikh said he resigned from the position due to bad health conditions. Then the court paused in the hearing. When the hearing started again, Fawad Hassan Fawad argued that Attaul Haq Qasmi used to do program on PTV.
The Chief Justice said how this matter falls under Article 184-3 of the Constitution. Where it is written that it is matter of public interest, he said. He said while directly referring to Fawad Hassan Fawad, does Attaul Haq Qasmi is your relative as nepotism is used for relatives. Chief Justice who is Attaul Haq Qasmi? To this, Fawad Hassan Fawad said that he is literary person since 50 years.
Justice Irfan Saadat Khan said did the poet had experience of running a channel. Fawad Hassan Fawad said that he was chairman board of directors of PTV and the board appointed him chairman.