The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought reply by May 05 from the federal government and five regulatory bodies subjugated to their relevant ministries. The court had already suspended a notification regarding subjugation of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Pepra) and Frequency Allocation Board (FAB).
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Jahangir Tareen and one, Ali Irfan, had filed petitions on the matter. Petitioner counsel Sheraz Zaka raised objection when Advocate Faisal Naqvi appeared on behalf of the ministry of water and power as a private counsel. He contended that Naqvi could not appear on behalf of the federal ministry as a recent Supreme Court judgement stated that the government could not engage private counsels.
However, Naqvi said his power of attorney had been duly certified by the attorney general of Pakistan. Zaka argued that the rule 16(2) of rules of business had already been declared ultra vires by the Supreme Court. He said that the prime minister could not bypass the cabinet and therefore the rule 3(3) of rules of business should also be declared ultra vires. He submitted that the notification issued by the federal government without the consultation of cabinet and council of common interest was unconstitutional and illegal.