ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the appointment of Habibur Rehman Gillani as chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).
The petitioner, who also applied for the position, claimed that the appointment was made during a cabinet meeting convened by the former Prime Minister Imran Khan after he was temporarily restored.
The counsel representing the federal government countered these claims by stating that the appointment was made in accordance with the rules and regulations set by the relevant departments, including the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Cabinet Division.
The appointment was made following a transparent process, including advertising the post and selecting a panel of three candidates from a Selection Board.
This panel was then sent to the prime minister for approval, and finally, it was approved by the Cabinet in accordance with the Supreme Court observations given in the Mustafa Impex case.
The counsel emphasized that the appointment was made without any malicious intent and was validly processed, following all the required codal formalities.
He argued that the cabinet’s approval was in line with the rules of business and was made under Rule 20(1) and Rule 20(5) of the Rules of Business, 1973, which requires the summary for the appointment of the ETPB chairman to be placed before the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
In conclusion, the court ruled that the petition lacked both legal and factual grounds and thus dismissed it, upholding the appointment of Habibur Rehman Gillani as the chairman of the ETPB.
