Excessive advisers
The Sindh High Court adjourned the hearing of a petition challenging excessive advisers and directed the petitioner and the government law officer to argue over the powers of the chief minister to appoint advisers and special assistants to the cabinet.
The additional law officer sought adjournment of the hearing on the grounds that the advocate general was busy in fulfilling his responsibilities with regard to the Supreme Court. The high court adjourned the hearing till December 16.
Moulvi Iqbal Haider submitted in his petition that Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had appointed more than 15 members of the assembly or over 11 percent of the members of the assembly to the cabinet, which, he said, was a gross violation of Article 130 (6) of the constitution that stipulated that the strength of the cabinet could not exceed the 11 percent cap.
He submitted that in terms of article 92 and 130 (11), the chief minister and the prime minister had powers to appoint their advisers but not more than five. The court was requested to declare the additional appointments unjust and unconstitutional.