HC refuses to suspend Ashraf appointment

Lahore: The Lahore High Court has refused to suspend Zaka Ashraf's appointment as Pakistan Cricket Board's Chairman but it has directed the PCB's legal counsel to file a reply to a lawyer's petition challenging it.

In a hearing held on Thursday, the Chief Justice directed the PCB counsel to file a reply before the next hearing a date for which will be fixed by the court office.

Advocate Tariq Asad, in his writ petition, had prayed to the court to suspend the appointment of Ashraf as the new PCB chairman claiming the respondent had no administration experience nor did he hold prerequisite educational qualifications.

The Lahore High Court has refused to suspend Zaka Ashraf\'s appointment as PCB\'s Chairman.

He contended that Ashraf's appointment was politically motivated and not on merit since Ashraf was a member of central executive committee of ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and enjoyed close relations with the PCB patron President Asif Ali Zardari.

Asad said as per the ICC rules direct appointments in a Board could not be made and the general body of the board had the right to elect its chairman.

He asserted that under ICC rules, appointments on political basis could not be done. Asad requested the court to declare the appointment as illegal and unconstitutional.

The Chief Justice didn't rule on the request but told the PCB counsel to reply to the points raised by the petitioner.

Ashraf is also facing a corruption case in the Supreme Court pertaining to illegal appointments in the Zarai Taraqyati Bank whom he served as Chairman before being appointed PCB head.

The legal counsel of the board said that a detailed reply would be submitted soon as there was nothing illegal or unconstitutional about Ashraf's appointment.

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