IHC's Chief Justice Athar Minallah says PM can appoint anyone as adviser

The Islamabad High Court's Chief Justice Athar Minallah said on Tuesday that a prime minister can appoint anyone as an adviser.

He said this while hearing a case regarding the appointment of Shahzad Akbar as PM Imran Khan's advisor on accountability. On Monday, Advocate Pervez Zahoor challenged Akbar's appointment as a special assistant to the premier. He urged the court to declare Akbar's appointment null and void.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel Amanullah Kinrani argued that Akbar is part of the federal cabinet. He added that the appointment of unelected members is against the National Assembly's rules.

The court said that in its judgment on the sugar mills case, it said that Akbar cannot be a part of the federal cabinet. The court asked if Akbar interfered in the matters of the National Accountability Bureau chairman. "Did he interfere in FIA? You have not presented any such thing to us," the high court said.

The chief justice said that as per the Constitution of Pakistan, a PM can appoint anyone as his advisor, adding that if the PM did not appoint a qualified person as his adviser, it is his choice, local media reported.