Aviation Division says Azeem stopped from
taking ‘independent decisions’ only
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ordered that Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem is dysfunctional until January 11, and summoned him in person.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and comprising Justice Ameer Hani Muslima and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman resumed hearing in contempt of court case against Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for appointing Shujaat Azeem as advisor.
Petitioner Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi had filed a contempt of court petition against Nawaz Sharif for appointing Captain (R) Shujaat Azeem as Advisor on Aviation despite the fact he was court-martialed and had dual citizenship.
On Friday, the court accepted the request made by Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt, seeking time for filing a reply as to whether Shujat Azeem has any role in privatisation of national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).Attorney General assured the court in his personal capacity that until submitting of his reply, Shujaat Azem will not exercise his powers to play any role in the privatisation of PIA.
The court then adjourned the hearing until January 11 with the ruling that during this period, Shujaat Azeem will not use his official powers. The court also summoned Shujaat Azeem in person on the next date of hearing.
Earlier, during the course of the proceedings, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali asked the learned Attorney General as to how a person can be re-appointed on the post from where he has been earlier removed.
It is pertinent to mention here that Shujat Azem was earlier appointed as Advisor to prime Minister on Aviation and he had to resign in pursuance of the court’s order but later on he was again appointed with the new title as Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Aviation.
Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt sought time of 15 days for filing a comprehensive reply in the instant matter. Chief Justice asked Attorney General as to whether Shaujaat Azem has any role in the privatisation of the PIA. The AG submitted that he is unaware of it but can inform the court in due time.
“We allow you time for submitting a reply on the assurance that Mr Azeem will not use his official powers pertaining to Aviation during this period,” the court told the AG. The AG told the court that let him seek instruction from the authorities concerned.
Later, after interval, the AG appeared before the court and sought 15 days for submitting a reply, stating that he could not contact the relevant authorities. “But in my personal capacity, I can assure that Shujaat Azeem will not play his role in privatization of national flag carrier, PIA,” the AG told the court.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing until January 11, 2016, ruling that during this period Shujaat Azeem will not exercised his official powers and summoned him also in-person on the next date of hearing.
APP adds: The spokesperson of the Aviation Division characterised as erroneous the reports being carried by a segment of media that the SC had stopped Shujaat Azeem from discharging his official responsibilities as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister.
In a statement issued here, the spokesperson said the SC had only directed that Azeem would not take “any independent decision” as regards to functioning of Aviation Division until the next date of hearing. There was no other restraint on him with regards to performing his duties as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, he said.
