In the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Chief Justice Aamer Farooq presided over the proceedings concerning petitions filed by Fahad Shabbir and PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat. The petitions challenged the appointment of the deputy prime minister. Notices were issued to other relevant officials, including the secretary to the prime minister and the cabinet secretary. Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan was also served a notice, soliciting his legal input in the matter.
Nadeem Sarwar, representing Fahad Shabbir, appeared before the court. Chief Justice Farooq inquired whether the Lahore High Court (LHC) had already resolved the issue. Sarwar responded, indicating that while there might have been media coverage suggesting such, the jurisdiction of the matter ultimately fell within the purview of the IHC, regardless of any prior decisions made by the LHC.
Expressing his skepticism, Justice Farooq emphasized the need to verify the status of the case, questioning Sarwar’s comprehension of English in a pointed manner.
Subsequently, the lawyer for Sher Afzal Marwat, Riaz Rahi, was called upon to elucidate the grounds for his client’s plea. Rahi pointed to four distinct grounds outlined in the notification, asserting that executive orders should not exceed their prescribed scope, and emphasizing the principle that an individual cannot hold two concurrent positions of authority.
