The Lahore High Court on Thursday asked the State Bank of Pakistan''s (SBP) counsel to submit an explanation on the legality of the appointment of Muhammad Ashraf Wathra as a deputy governor of central bank and restrained Wathra from working till Friday (today). The SBP''s counsel argued that the bank had nothing to do with the appointment, as the former prime minister, being lawful authority, had made the appointment.
He sought more time to file the reply and requested the court to adjourn hearing till Monday. The counsel, however, backed down when the court remarked that the deputy governor''s suspension would continue till the next hearing. The counsel alleged that the former PPP-led government had appointed Wathra on a key post of the SBP deputy governor in a bid to get its candidates cleared from the list of tax defaulters.