ISLAMABAD: A division bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved judgment in National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) president, Arif Usmani, and chairman Zubair Somro dismissal case. These two top officials were dismissed by IHC sometimes ago from their offices citing their appointments illegal.
Later, NBP had submitted the appeal against a single bench of IHC. Chief Justice Athar Minallah and justice, Amir Farooq, have heard the appeal. The two- member panel listened to the arguments of the counsels of the both the parties and reserved judgment in the case.
During the hearing of the appeal it conspired that incumbent NBP president, Arif Usmani does not have required qualification to be the president of NBP. The disclosure that Arif Usmani had master degree in Physics had stunned the court.
.Latif Qureshi, a former employee of NBP and unionist, had challenged appointment of Arif Usmani and Zubair Somro on the ground that both individuals lacked requisite qualification and experience to head NBP.
On last day of hearing, counsel for NBP, Mukhdoom Ali Khan, pleaded the case of Arif Usmani and Zubair Somro as the entire tale of defence was built -up on just scratches
He could not satisfy the court as to why the bank’s rules and set procedure was not applied in letter and spirit for appointment of Arif Usmani and Zubair Somro.
Dr G M Chaudhary advocate who appeared before the court on behalf of the petitioner, Latif Qureshi, pleaded by concluding his arguments in the case that the appointment of Arif Usmani and Zubair Somro was a glare violation of the principle of merit and bank’s own laws and hence both the appointments of top bank officials should be called ultra virus and against the principle of justice. The court after hearing of the arguments of both sides reserved the judgement.
