The two-member divisional bench of IHC, comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamir Farooq, heard the petition of Federation seeking to set aside the decision of one member bench to restore Saeed Ahmad Khan on post of Chairman OGRA.
Justice Athar Minallah remarked that federal government was authorized to take action against the official of an independent institution, if annoyed by him.
Additional Attorney General Afnan Karim Kundi informed the court that the government had sent Chairman OGRA on forced leave for three month, after declaring him responsible for fuel crisis in the country and directed the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) to hold an inquiry against Saeed Ahmad and other officials.
He prayed the court to set aside the orders of one member bench, which had earlier ordered to restore Chairman OGRA on his post as the inquiry against the OGARA official including its Chairman Saeed Ahmad Khan was still underway.
He said that the federal government was authorized to remove the official from the post of Chairman OGRA. The counsel for Chairman OGRA, Babar Sattar claimed that his client could not be removed from his post as OGRA was an independent institution with its own rules and procedures. The court adjourned hearing of the case till April 6, and issued directives to hear the petition on daily basis from next week. It may be mentioned that on February 11, the Cabinet Division had sent Saeed Ahmed Khan on forced leave due to his alleged role in the January fuel crisis and later the forced leave was suspended by one member of IHC.