Appointment of UHS vice chancellor: LHC seeks reply from Punjab government

The Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Wednesday sought replies from Punjab government, chief secretary, health secretary by May 10 in a writ petition challenging appointment of vice chancellor, University of Health Sciences (UHS) Malik Hussain Mubashar.
On Wednesday it was told to the court that no reply was submitted by any respondent. On it the court adjourned the hearing of the petition and observing that a retired officer was reappointed after summoning from home. The court would not declare the case anfructuous rather would decide it on merit. Recently Punjab government has reappointed Dr Mubashar, as chairman UHS on the expiry of his term. The instant petition was filed during his previous tenure. The petitioner Tahir Hameed being a taxpayer citizen of Pakistan has claimed his right to agitate the impugned appointment.
Advocate Nasir Mehmood Qureshi representing the petitioner submitted that the UHS was an autonomous body, which was established under "The University of Health Sciences, Lahore Ordinance, 2002. He said at that time pursuant to section 12, respondent Malik Mubashar was appointed, as vice chancellor on April 12, 2003. The counsel pointed out that section 12(5) of the Ordinance says that any person, who is eligible to be appointed as professor, is disqualified for appointment as vice-chancellor. He said the respondent after attaining age of superannuation/retirement on July 31, 2005 was not eligible to meet criteria for his appointment as vice chancellor.
He further argued that the appointment of respondent was made in sheer violation of appointment policy, as applications from other eligible candidates were not invited before the impugned appointment neither other equally eligible candidates were provided with an opportunity to compete for that.