ISLAMABAD: In a significant development before his anticipated transfer from the Islamabad High Court, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani has issued a major order summoning Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appear in person on May 18.
The order addresses the stalled appointment of the Member Finance for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Tribunal, with the court seeking the Prime Minister’s direct explanation for the delay.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the Assistant Attorney General informed the Islamabad High Court that a retired judge had already been appointed as a member of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Tribunal. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani sharply questioned this development, remarking that “retired judges have sunk more boats” and are often “more eager to join tribunals,” adding that they are kept awake at night by thoughts of “salutes” and prefer postings in bodies like the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) or other tribunals if their “heart desires,” an apparent reference to the appointment of Justice retired Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui.
Apparently building on this critique, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani summoned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appear in his personal capacity on May 18 to explain the delay in appointing the Member Finance of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Tribunal.
In this significant order, issued just before Justice Kayani’s anticipated transfer, the court explicitly directed the Prime Minister to personally justify why the appointment has not yet been finalized. This development marks a critical escalation in the legal proceedings regarding the stalled PTA Tribunal appointment.
Not just that, but expanding the court’s scrutiny, the Justice also directed the Principal Secretary and Cabinet Secretary to appear before the bench, marking one of his final significant directives before his anticipated transfer.
