07-11-13 ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan Thursday heard a case pertaining to load-shedding and power tariff and expressed displeasure over government’s ‘adhocism’ and ‘nepotism’, media reported Thursday.According to the report, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry headed a bench which took up the case today.During the course of hearing, the petitioner revealed that Khawaja Naeem is working as acting chairman of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), and not as a permanent Chairman of the institution responsible for regulating electricity in Pakistan.The revelation drew CJP’s anger. In his remarks, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said: “It’s understandable why state institutions are being run on adhocism. The Attorney General of Pakistan must respond on it. If everything is to be run by the court then what the government is meant for?”“How an acting NEPRA chief can take decisions?” the CJP questioned authority of an acting NEPRA chairman.The complainant made another disclosure that Khawaja Naeem is relative of Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif. At which, the chief justice remarked that the tradition of favouritism in high-level appointments is still alive. “Everything is being run through nepotism.”NEPRA counsel Rashidain Kasuri told the court that interviews were being held for a new NEPRA chairman’s appointment. At which the court sought a report on appointment of permanent chairmen since 1997 to date.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 10:08:05 +0000