All appointments must be on merit: CJ

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamli on Wednesday observed that the court had no grudge against anyone and it only wanted appointments be made in all institutions on merit and as per law.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by the CJ, heard the case on the appointment of the chairman and members of the FST. The government produced before the Supreme Court (SC) a notification pertaining to removal of the Federal Service Tribunal (FST) chairman and assured the court that the new chairman will be appointed within 15 days.
During the hearing, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Salman Aslam Butt produced before the court a notification on the removal of the chairman and assured the court that the new chairman would be appointed within 15 days.
He submitted that with the removal of the chairman, the FST would not remain dysfunctional. CJ Jamali observed that they had no personal grudge against anyone but wanted that merit should strictly be observed.
“Our aim is not to unseat the chairman Federal Services Tribunal but to ensure appointments in accordance with law,” the CJ observed.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing for a month with the ruling that matter relating to appointment of members of the FST would be taken up before a larger bench after four weeks. Separately, the SC ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold re-election in PB-50 Turbat. A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, dismissed the appeal filed by Adviser to Balochistan Chief Minister for Fisheries Akbar Askani and upheld the decision of Balochistan Election Tribunal (ET).
Askani had won this seat in the 2013 general elections on a PML-N ticket. However, Muhammad Akram Baloch of the National Party had challenged his victory in the ET alleging that Mr Askani had won through fraud and rigging. The tribunal had given a verdict for re-election in the constituency. Askani had challenged the verdict of the Balochistan Election Tribunal in the Supreme Court, the decision of which was announced on Wednesday.
The Balochistan Election Tribunal, after hearing the matter, had ruled that evidence of irregularities, fraud and rigging were found in PB-50 and directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure immediate holding of elections in the constituency.
Akram Baloch, who was one of the candidates for PB-50, had served as speaker of Balochistan Assembly during the Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi’s government in the 1990s.