ISLAMABAD (May 9): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah today directed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the appointment of PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi as a special assistant to the prime minister.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid against the appointment of Hanif Abbasi as a SAPM, with the former interior minister appearing before the court.
The development came days after the newly appointed SAPM had announced a reward of Rs50,000 to anyone who brought him Rashid’s wig, a statement over which PPP Secretary General Farhatullah Babar had expressed concern.
The IHC CJ summoned Rashid to the rostrum and regretted the accusations made against court at public gatherings. “Do you and your ally PTI have confidence in the Islamabad High Court?” the IHC CJ asked.
Justice Minallah said important and big cases are pending in the high court like the cases of missing persons and Baloch students. “Sheikh sb, these courts are for everyone,” he said, to which Rasheed replied, “right sir”.
“It is said that the courts open at night and statements are made that the courts open at the behest of someone,” he said.
Later, the court issued notices to the federation through the Cabinet division secretary and Hanif Abbasi on the plea against his appointment as the SAPM.
The hearing was adjourned till May 17.
