SHC suspends ECP’s letter regarding service of IBA executive director

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) letter regarding permission for re-confirmation of continuation of service of Institute of Business Administration Executive Director Dr Syed Akbar Zaidi.

The interim order came on a lawsuit filed by Syed Nadeem Hussain who had challenged the ECP’s letter.

The plaintiff’s counsel, Ahmed Masood, submitted that the interference of the ECP in the matter of continuation of service of the IBA executive director had been impugned as the ECP had declined extension in his tenure whereas the competent authority had approved his extension on November 13, 2023.

He submitted that a ban imposed by the ECP in August was not applicable to the IBA’s executive director. He argued that the ECP without any reason had declined the re-confirmation.

The counsel submitted that in case, the executive director was not available, the institution may not run smoothly.

A single bench headed by Justice Mahmood A Khan after initial hearing of the lawsuit issued notices to the ECP, Sindh government and others for January 30 and in the meantime, suspended the ECP letter issued on

December 5.

Dr Zaidi’s first four-year tenure will end on January 12, 2024. The Sindh government had written a letter to the ECP a month and a half ago, requesting another four-year tenure for Dr Zaidi, but the request has now been declined by the commission.

In a summary sent by Sindh Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Tariq Rafi and Secretary Boards and Universities Department Noor Ahmed Samoo, two suggestions were given to Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar.

One of the suggestions was to extend Dr Zaidi’s tenure for another four years. The other suggestion was to issue an advertisement for the appointment of a new executive director of the institute.