LAHORE – The Lahore High Court on Monday restrained two judicial members of the Appellate Tribunal of Inland Revenue to hold their offices, reportedly appointed by former law minister Babar Awan and law secretary Masood Chishti.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued this order on a petition challenging the appointment of Muhammad Asghar Paswal and Muhammad Anwer Javed as judicial members of the Appellate Tribunal of Inland Revenue.
The court observed that they were not eligible person for appointment having no 10 years active experience as advocate of High Court, which was required under clause (2) of Article 193 of the Constitution for their appointment. Petitioner lawyer Anwarul Haq submitted that they were appointed by Babar Awan and Masood Chishti being their personal friend while by-passing the statuary provisions of law.  He requested to turn down their appointments.
After recording argument, the court restrained Asghar Paswal and Anwer Javed from holding office of judicial members.
Reply sought: Additional District and Sessions Judge Shahida Saeed on Monday sought comments from CCPO by April 5 on a petition seeking registration of a criminal case against PML-N Law Minster Rana Sana Ullah and others for taking out rally on Mall Road despite the ban under section 144 of Cr PC. Previously, the court had sought comments from CCPO Office but no one turned up. Petitioner’s counsel JAP Chairman Advocate Azher Siddique argued before the court that SHO Civil Lines had registered a case against Pakistan Awami Tehrik for commencing a rally on Mall road but refused to register a case against PML-N leaders who violated the law in the same manner.
He said that Punjab Government itself had imposed section 144 and later shamefully violated it.