PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday issued notices to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government and Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) after former Mines and Minerals Minister Ziaullah Afridi challenged the appointment of its director general and commissioner. A division bench of PHC consisting of Justice Nisar Hussain and Justice Syed Afsar Shah while hearing a writ petition filed the former minister through his counsel Shamail Ahmad Butt was informed as per Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehetesab Commission Act (KPECA) appointment of commissioner was legislative committee’s responsibility. “To this effect a meeting of the legislative committee was held on March 26, 2014 but an advertisement for their appointment was published before the meeting on March 14”, Shamail argued. He stated the names of the commissioners who would be appointed were mentioned in the advertisement so that people’s objections could be received over their appointment. He said that 20 years experience in anti-corruption affairs was one of the pre-requisite in the advertisement but the commissioner who were appointed in KPEC include a 20-grade principal and a controller of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. “Besides such people were appointed as commissioners whose names were not mentioned in the advertisement as most of those whose names were published were dropped,” he contended. He said that names of commissioners were forwarded to the legislative committee after its finalization. He stated that at least presence of five members was mandatory for a meeting of the legislative committee but it was evident from the record that only two members attended the meeting held for approving the list containing names of commissioners. He said that presence of only two members was a clear evidence of an incomplete quorum. Shamail argued that notification regarding the constitution of commission was issued on August 20, 2014 and as per law commissioners had to appoint its director general but advertisement for the appointment of DG was published on March 17, 2014. He pointed out that DG was appointed earlier than the commissioners while according to KPECA commissioners ought to be appointed earlier then the DG. He adopted that it was proved that rules and regulations were violated in the appointment of DG and commissioners while keeping in view the dates of publishing advertisements. “Moreover, former DG of KPEC had written in his resignation letter that he joined the commission on request of provincial government and not on his own will,” Shamail stated. He argued that it was also evident from the resignation that the DG was appointed directly and his name was not sent to commissioners therefore action of the commission against Ziaullah Afridi was illegal and unconstitutional. He prayed the bench to declare appointment of DG and commissioners null and void however the bench instead of granted interim relief to the petitioner issued notices to the commission and provincial government. The Ehtesab Commission arrested the former provincial minister on charges of misuse of authority and corruption and behind the bar since then. The commission had claimed that he inflicted a huge loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer through illegal mining in various mines sites. The commission claimed that though there was a complete ban on mining but he allowed illegal mining in various places, besides he was also accused of illegal posting and transfers.