The Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended the transfer order of Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar and forwarded the matter to another bench of the apex court.
Dogar’s plea was heard by a three-member bench comprising Justice Ijazul Hassan, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Munib Akhtar.
During the hearing, the court inquired about the non-appearance of the Chief Election Commissioner, to which the Secretary of the Election Commission told the court that the Chief Election Commissioner couldn’t come due to his health issues.
The apex court observed that the Chief Election Commissioner alone, without consultation with other members, cannot approve transfers.
While hearing the case, Justice Muneeb Akhtar asked who contacted the Chief Election Commissioner for an appointment and transfer. He questioned which section of the Election Act allows the Election Commissioner to make appointments and transfers himself.
The court reiterated that the elections should be held in 90 days. "Time is passing by. What is the Election Commission doing?," he remarked.
During the hearing, Justice Muneeb expressed his indignation at Secretary Election Commission Umar Hameed's repeated statements. The Secretary of the Election Commission said that he is aware of the basics of the law. On this, Justice Ejaz said that you will not be called a lawyer because you know the basics of the law.
Lawyer Abid Zuberi argued that Ghulam Mehmood Dogar was reinstated by the Federal Service Tribunal, but later, a two-member bench of the Service Tribunal suspended the reinstatement decision.
He said that the decision of the two-member bench of the tribunal cannot be suspended by the other two-member bench, and the review petition of the government is also pending in the tribunal.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab caretaker government transferred CCPO Lahore Ghulam Mahmood Dogar on January 23. According to the notification issued in this regard, Bilal Siddique Kamiana was appointed as the new CCPO Lahore.
Dogar’s plea was heard by a three-member bench comprising Justice Ijazul Hassan, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Munib Akhtar.
During the hearing, the court inquired about the non-appearance of the Chief Election Commissioner, to which the Secretary of the Election Commission told the court that the Chief Election Commissioner couldn’t come due to his health issues.
The apex court observed that the Chief Election Commissioner alone, without consultation with other members, cannot approve transfers.
While hearing the case, Justice Muneeb Akhtar asked who contacted the Chief Election Commissioner for an appointment and transfer. He questioned which section of the Election Act allows the Election Commissioner to make appointments and transfers himself.
The court reiterated that the elections should be held in 90 days. "Time is passing by. What is the Election Commission doing?," he remarked.
During the hearing, Justice Muneeb expressed his indignation at Secretary Election Commission Umar Hameed's repeated statements. The Secretary of the Election Commission said that he is aware of the basics of the law. On this, Justice Ejaz said that you will not be called a lawyer because you know the basics of the law.
Lawyer Abid Zuberi argued that Ghulam Mehmood Dogar was reinstated by the Federal Service Tribunal, but later, a two-member bench of the Service Tribunal suspended the reinstatement decision.
He said that the decision of the two-member bench of the tribunal cannot be suspended by the other two-member bench, and the review petition of the government is also pending in the tribunal.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab caretaker government transferred CCPO Lahore Ghulam Mahmood Dogar on January 23. According to the notification issued in this regard, Bilal Siddique Kamiana was appointed as the new CCPO Lahore.