The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed ports and shipping ministry to furnish complete record of all the appointment, made in Port Qasim Authority (PQA) during former minister Babar Khan Ghauri's tenure.
A four -member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Javed Iqbal comprising Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa was hearing a petition, challenging appointment of Mehmood Zameer Farooqi, brother-in-law of Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim in Port Qasim Authority, by dysfunctional secretary of the Ports and Shipping Ministry, Abdul Jabbar Memon. The court also converted the petition into human rights case.
The petitioner filed miscellaneous application on January 17, 2011 for stopping former federal minister for ports and shipping Babar Khan Ghauri from using his influence in transfers and postings in the PQA. In the last date of hearing, the court had sought a comprehensive record from ministry of ports and shipping regarding appointment of employees from grade 1 to 20 during the last three years.
PQA submitted a report of 400 staff, who had been employed during the last three years but the court expressed dissatisfaction over the report and declared that the record of appointments were incomplete.
Expressing concern, Justice Javed Iqbal observed that PQA was established in 1973 but rules had not been framed up till now, therefore, illegal appointments are being made in PQA. He said that the court would take coercive action against the responsible officials, who would be involved in making illegal appointments. The court adjourned the hearing till February 14.