The Lahore High Court on Monday set aside appointment of Zahid Bashir, as Chairman, Red Crescent Society (RCS), Punjab, and restored the former Chairman, Mian Muhammad Hanif, in his office. Some RCS managing committee members including Liaqat Ali Chishti and others had challenged the appointment of Bashir and also the appointment of some committee members.
The court also set aside the appointment of six managing committee members, who were appointed by the governor. The petitioners through their counsel had submitted that the governor being president of the RCS appointed Bashir as new chairman on January 6, 2012 by removing Mian Muhammad Hanif.
They claimed that the impugned appointment was illegal as it was made after ignoring merit and purely on political grounds. He alleged that Bashir after taking charge, as the society's chairman, started misusing his office and wasting the society's resources. He, therefore, prayed to the court to set aside the appointment of Zahid Bashir and also to restrain governor from interfering in the affairs of the society. The court had already suspended Zahid Bashir and the six members of Red Crescent Society (Punjab) Managing Committee. On Monday, after counsels from both sides concluded their arguments, the court allowed the petitions.