ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday revoked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s orders regarding the appointment of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (OGRA) member in charge of oil.
A single member bench, comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddique, took up hearing the case regarding the member’s appointment process, after a petition was filed by a potential appointee Gulam Yasin.
According to the details of the case, the Nawaz government had advertised the post in newspapers, following the retirement of former member oil Sabir. Several persons skilled in this field had filed their applications in connection with the potential appointment.
The board in charge of selection had short-listed 3 people, which included OGRA senior executive director Gulam Yasin, Zainul Abideen and Abdul Malik from the applicants and had sent a report to the PM.
The PM, instead of appointing a person from the shortlist, gave orders to the petroleum ministry to re-advertise the post in newspapers. The petroleum ministry subsequently sent an advertisement as per the PM’s orders.
The court directed the government to not implement Nawaz’s orders and instead appoint one of the three people selected by the board.
The IHC has also restrained the petroleum ministry from advertising the post afresh.
