Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry here on Wednesday issued notice to the Federal Government for November 4 and sought reply in a petition filed against the appointment of Zaka Ashraf as chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The petitioner a bar member Tariq Asad contended that Zaka Ashaf is a declared politically affiliated person and his appointment to the office of Chairman PCB, is contrary to the rules framed by international cricket council prescribing that no appointment of any kind can be made in cricket board on political basis. But appointment of the incumbent Chairman of the PCB has been made on political grounds. Therefore, law of International Cricket Council (ICC) be applied to PCB.
The petitioner has strongly apprehended that with the induction of Zaka as Chairman PBC, the game of cricket is Pakistan is very much likely to fall prey to politics to a great loss to this game at the national and the international level. The petitioner said that Zaka Ashraf is a very close friend of President Asif Ali Zardari and that their ties have been considered as the only merit for Zaka's elevation to the office. Not that but the respondent also lacks requisite knowledge and expertise about the game of cricket as such his induction will go to disserve the game. The petitioner prayed to the court to strike down the appointment in question for the sake of protecting cricket.