The Lahore High Court on Thursday adjourned to March 16 the proceedings in a petition against advisors to Prime Minister for further arguments and observed that powers of foreign minister could not be exercised by an advisor. A citizen, Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi, challenging the appointments of Sartaj Aziz and Tariq Fatemi, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi as advisor argued through his counsel that Sartaj Aziz and Fatemi had been running the foreign ministry like minister.
The counsel pointed out that prime minister could appoint five advisors; however, a number of advisors had been working in violation of the rules. A law officer challenging the maintainability of the petition said that the petitioner had relied upon nothing concrete but press clippings. He therefore asked the court to dismiss the petition. Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah observed that the courts could be petitioned on the basis of clear and reliable media reports and adjourned the proceedings for further arguments.