Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi of Lahore High Court, on Thursday, issued notices to the Minister of Local Government Abdul Aleem Khan and others regarding the formation of public sector companies as well as political appointment of Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Shakil Shahid as chairman of Faisalabad Waste Management Company (FWMC). Justice Qureshi sought replies from the respondents till November 8. The judge directed the assistant advocate general to seek the instructions from Aleem Khan regarding the political appointment of Shakil Shahid. He also directed a law officer to seek instructions from the secretary to chief minister whether to continue with the business of public sector companies or the present government intends to close these 56 entities after the latest corruption scandal. The petitioner, Sheraz Zaka advocate, said that the present government, on one hand, pledged to bring reforms in the local government and, on the other hand, it was not deciding the fate of all these public sector companies. He submitted that the Local Government Minister Aleem Khan, during the time of opposition, spoke vociferously against the formation of public sector companies and after becoming the minister, he was making political appointments in these companies in violation of Public Sector Companies Rules 2013. The petitioner further said that the formation of public sector companies was against the efficient functioning of the local government under Article 140. He further requested the court to declare the public sector companies as illegal and appointment of Shakil Shahid as null and void. Published in Daily Times, October 12th 2018.