Daily Times

LAHORE: Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi of Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notice to the establishment division federal secretary about alleged violation of merit in appointment of Nilofer Shahzad as deputy permanent delegate of Pakistan to United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation in France.

The judge turned down the request to stay the impugned appointment and directed the federal law officer to ensure submission of a reply on behalf of secretary establishment division by June 25.

Dr Muhammad Babar Chohan, who had secured second position in the examination by securing 68 percent among five candidates, challenged the appointment of Nilofar Shahzad. Petitioner counsel Safdar Shaheen Pirzada said that Dr Chohan secured an overall second position and was also the topper in his CSS examinations.

He said that Shahzad could hardly pass the written exam by obtaining 62 percent marks. He alleged that the lady managed her posting due to strong political relations with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. He further alleged that the appointment of Shahzad appeared to be an example of nepotism, corrupt practice and unlawful political discretion of power by the former prime minister. Counsel submitted that in these circumstances, the only choice left with the government was to select the petitioner and issue a notification strictly on merit.

He requested to set aside the notification of the impugned appointment for being unlawful and restrained Shahzad from joining the post until decision of the petition.

Published in Daily Times, June 22^nd 2018.