Manan Mandokhail, Syed Kaleem Shah:
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QUETTA: Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Thursday admitted a constitutional petition challenging the appointment of 28 coordinators and 2 spokesmen of the Chief Minister Balochistan. The court admitted the petition and issued notices to the concerned quarters. Chief Secretary Balochistan, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister was issued notices in this regard.
Balochistan Government Spokesperson Farah Azim Shah, Chief Minister Balochistan Spokesperson Babar Yousafzai, Chief Minister’s Coordinators Nawabzada Jamal Raisani, Abdul Fateh Jamali, Obaidullah, Malik Amanullah Mehtarzai, Abdul Rauf Rindh, Samin Jan Zafar, Ajaz Sanjrani, Syed Mahim Jan, Shania Khan, Bilal Khan, Haji Wali Noorzai, Akhtar Muhammad Kakar, Wali Khan Ghibzai, Malik Adil Khan Bazai, Musa Jan, Syed Amaruddin Agha, Watan Yar Bazai, Muhammad Dawood, Nasibullah, Syed Inamullah, Zulaikha, Aziz Khan, Zarak Khan, Syed Shah Nawaz, Muhammad Fahad Tareen, Shaukat Stephen, Noor Khan Tareen, Muhammad Ajmal Kurd, and Ali Tahir were made party in the case.
These decisions are the main cause of the financial crisis: Petitioner
Balochistan Government through a notification on 1st March 2022 appointed Farah Azim Shah as the Spokesperson of the Provincial Government. Then surprisingly through another notification on 9 March 2023, Babar Yousafzai was appointed as the Spokesperson of Chief Minister Baluchistan, and a new post was created for this purpose, Advocate Sadiq Khilji pleaded in the petition.
Although the work of the spokesperson of the Balochistan government and the spokesperson of the Chief Minister is the same it is causing heavy loss to the national exchequer, he mentioned. On the other hand, the appointment of 28 honorary coordinators of the Chief Minister has also been implemented through various notifications.
But surprisingly, a separate room with a full staff, telephones, computers, and other facilities has been provided for the coordinators in the civil secretariat which is causing a heavy burden on the national exchequer.
Appointment of CM spokesperson against the law
It has been argued in the petition that on the one hand, the country and Balochistan province are facing financial difficulties on the other hand, due to non-payment of salaries, the employees of Jamia Balochistan and Metropolitan Reporters are protesting.
In such a situation, for the first time in the history of the province, a separate spokesperson was appointed for the chief minister along with the government spokesperson, which is against the law.
Therefore, the Supreme Court should issue orders in this regard and while issuing notices to the parties, they have asked for an explanation by April 6, 2023.
