LAHORE: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Friday sought a detailed report from the government on the appointment of Zulfi Bukhari as prime minister’s special assistant. The chief justice heard a petition in the Supreme Court’s Lahore registry against Bukhari’s appointment as PM’s special assistant despite he being a dual national. While hearing the petition, the chief justice remarked that matters cannot be run on the basis of ‘friendships’, adding that prime minister is a trustee of the nation and he cannot run matters as per his own will, a private TV channel reported. “Appointments on key posts are an important national duty and such matters should be run as per national interest and not on the basis of friendships,” he remarked. As the hearing started, the chief justice expressed anger over Bukhari’s attitude. “You should leave your anger at home and then come. You might be someone else’s friend but you are not a friend of the Supreme Court,” the top judge remarked, and asked the attorney general to apprise Bukhari regarding his attitude. Bukhari’s counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, informed the court, “The prime minister has the authority to appoint special assistants.” At this, the chief justice remarked, “The prime minister does not have unrestrained authority … he is a trustee of the nation. He should not run matters as per his own will. We will decide whether the matters are being run in line with the constitution or not.” “Nepotism should not be seen in appointments on higher posts,” the chief justice said. “On what basis was Bukhari appointed and who directed that a summary regarding this appointment be prepared?” he questioned. Bukhari’s counsel responded, “The prime minister can even seek advice from [former US president] Barack Obama and Bukhari was not given a constitutional post. He was appointed as per the rules of business.” The counsel argued that Bukhari is not a member of the cabinet and the post of special assistant to prime minister on overseas Pakistanis must be given to a dual national. “If the person appointed to the post holds visas of the United Kingdom and Pakistan, it helps the person [to run the affairs],” he added. “We had not appreciated nepotism in the case of Jahangir Tareen. What is the specialty of Zulfi Bukhari? Or has he been appointed an assistant because he is a friend to ‘someone’?” the CJP asked, noting that this was an important case. Bukhari told the court that he has done his graduation in political science. He said he has excellent relations with overseas Pakistanis. He also claimed to be among the top 100 Pakistanis in the UK. “I am a property developer in the UK and I have access to overseas Pakistanis which can help bring business to Pakistan. People know me,” he said when asked about his profession abroad. “Did you ever live in Pakistan?” asked the chief justice. Bukhari replied that he studied in Pakistan for five years until the age of 18. “Must have been a ‘mummy daddy’ school,” replied the top judge. The chief justice directed Ahsan to submit a report on his client’s credentials. The hearing of the case was adjourned until Dec 5. Prime Minister Imran Khan had appointed his close aide Zulfiqar Hussain Bukhari, aka Zulfi Bukhari, as his special assistant in September. Adil Chattha from Lahore and Mirza Abdul Moiz Baig from Karachi had filed a petition against his appointment which was taken up by the top court at the Lahore registry. Published in Daily Times, November 17th 2018.