TP REPORT
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by former legal adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Ali Azeem Afridi, challenging the appointment and promotion of Provincial Assembly Secretary Syed Waqar Shah.
In its detailed verdict, the court ruled that the petitioner had failed to substantiate any of the allegations levelled against Mr Shah. It observed that all stages of his appointment, upgradation and promotions were carried out in accordance with relevant laws, rules and within the authority of the competent forum.
The court noted that no evidence of mala fide intent, procedural irregularity or illegality had been established. It further held that the objections raised in the petition, including claims of misuse of authority and unlawful appointment, lacked any solid legal or documentary basis.
“An appointment cannot be set aside merely on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations,” the judgement stated.
The court also observed that the petition appeared to stem from personal grievances rather than public interest. It pointed out that the petitioner had previously filed multiple cases against Mr Shah, indicating a pattern of personal dispute rather than a matter of legal substance. Similar petitions had also been filed against the assembly administration in the past, it added.
Declaring the petition to be without merit and not maintainable, the court dismissed it, while upholding Mr Shah’s appointment as well as his promotions to Grade 20 and subsequently Grade 21.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly welcomed the ruling, stating that it reaffirmed that all appointments and promotions in the assembly had been made strictly in line with the Constitution, law and established rules. The spokesperson added that the assembly secretariat would continue to perform its duties with transparency, merit and adherence to the rule of law.
