The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear all the petitions filed in the three high courts of the country challenging the appointment of Chairman of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
All petitions filed in the Sindh, Lahore, and Islamabad high courts were clubbed together and will be adjudicated by the capital’s high court.
The IHC while hearing the case directed the counsels of all the parties to finalize their arguments in the next hearing.
During the hearing, Justice Amir Farooq inquired whether the parties to the case have submitted their responses. The petitioner’s counsel Hafiz Arafat replied that some of the parties are yet to submit their responses.
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He said that he will submit his argument in the next hearing as he has just received the copy of NADRA’s response.
NADRA’s counsel Afnan Karim Kundi contended that the petitioners’ counsels have remained absent for three previous hearings.
He said that the issue is being delayed deliberately. The hearing was adjourned till November 27 because of incomplete arguments.
It is pertinent to mention here that the previous government had reappointed Usman Yousaf Mobin as NADRA Chief on Feb 8, 2018. However, the appointment did not go well with a number of people. For one, Muhammad Rashid, who himself was a candidate for the post challenged the advertisement given for the post last year in Sindh High Court.
Rashid contended that the age limit for the applicants mentioned in the advertisement was contrary to the NADRA Ordinance 2000. Notably, a number of people have challenged the appointment over the issue of age limit.
“.. advertisement was contrary to the NAB Ordinance 2000”? Thought you were talking about NADRA and not NAB. Where is editor?? Is there any?