IHC directs PM to review Hanif Abbasi's appointment as SAPM

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on directed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review his decision of appointing Hanif Abbasi as his special assistant.

The court issued the directive while hearing a plea filed by former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid, who has challenged Abbasi's appointment as a special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM) on grounds of his 2018 conviction in an ephedrine case.

In his petition, Rashid pointed out that the Lahore High Court had only suspended Abbasi's sentence and not his conviction in the case, adding that "the conviction stood intact for all intents and purposes".

Rashid again highlighted these objections at today's hearing, saying that a convict had been made an SAPM.

At this, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked whether any hearing in the drug case was held after the suspension of Abbasi's sentence.

"It has been four years and no hearing has been held," replied Rashid's lawyer.

Following that, the court issued notices to the respondents, directed the PM to review his decision of appointing Abbasi as his SAPM and adjourned the hearing till May 17.

IHC CJ asks Rashid to affirm whether he has faith in his court

Earlier at the hearing, Justice Minallah sought Rashid's affirmation that he had faith in his court.

"These courts are for everyone. Perhaps, people don't believe this," the IHC CJ remarked while addressing Rashid, adding that the opening of courts at midnight was being questioned at rallies.

On April 9, with the deadline set by the Supreme Court to hold voting on no-trust motion against then-prime minister Imran Khan fast approaching after a marathon NA session, the apex court and the IHC had opened their doors beyond their notified timings. The vote was eventually held and saw Imran voted out from the top office.

The IHC's decision to resume court activity at the unusual hour had come after a pre-emptive petition was filed asking the court to restrain Imran from de-notifying Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa as chief of the army staff. The then government had, however, denied having any such plans.

Later, Imran had asked the judiciary, notably at an April 13 rally, to explain why it had felt the need to open its doors at midnight.

Without making any reference to a particular instance, Justice Minallah said today that it seemed as if the PTI did not have faith in the courts. "It is said in rallies that courts are not independent."

Rashid - a longtime ally of Imran who was also part of the PTI's ousted coalition government - assured Justice Minallah that "we have approached the court because we have faith in it."

At this, the chief justice highlighted the significance of making it clear that "justice is being served".

"Big cases of this country are being heard in this court," he said, further telling

Rashid that the IHC would hear his plea if he had faith in his court.

"There are other courts and judges who, too, can hear your cases. But if Imran Khan does not have faith [in this court] ... I will refer the case to another court," he stated.

He then recalled that in 2014 the court had ordered the release of detained PTI workers at 11pm.

Addressing Rashid, Justice Minallah said his lawyer would have surely informed him that as per rules, a chief justice could take up a case at any time. He asked Rashid to inform the court within two days whether he had faith in it.