The Islamabad High Court on Monday issued a notice to Managing Director Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh to submit a reply in a writ petition filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmad. A single-member bench of Justice Athar Minallah resumed the hearing of a petition filed by Sheikh Rashid Ahmad who has challenged the appointment of Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh as managing director, Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM).
During the course of proceedings, the court directed the respondent No-2, MD PBM Abid Waheed Sheikh, to submit a reply. The court also issued a direction to its office for the relisting of the matter so that it must be fixed for hearing in the next 15 days. The petitioner though his counsel Sardar Abdur Razzaq contended before the court that the appointment of MD PBM lacks transparency; and the laid down merit criteria was not followed. Sheikh was not appointed through Federal Commission for selection of heads for public sector organisations that was mandatory in the light of Supreme Court of Pakistan's judgement in the Khawaja Asif case. As per the judgment, the appointment should have been advertised in the print media that was not done, the petitioner added. The petitioner stated that the appointment was politically motivated. The incumbent MD PBM had been an office-bearer of the PML-N and a financier for the party.