Sardar NASEER AHMED MOOSIANI vs CHIEF EXECUTIVE_CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT OF BALOCHISTAN, QUETTA. and others
This matter comes before the Supreme Court of Pakistan upon a petition for leave to appeal directed against a judgment of the High Court concerning the acceptance of a resignation tendered by the petitioner, Sardar Naseer Ahmed Moosiani, from the office of Nazim. The core legal questions revolve around the authenticity and genuineness of the alleged resignation, the diligent application of mind by the Chief Minister under the relevant local government legislation in accepting it, allegations of mala fides, subsequent performance of official functions, and whether legal and factual aspects were properly appreciated by the High Court. The Supreme Court granted leave to appeal to examine these multifaceted legal and factual controversies, specifically addressing whether the resignation was validly acted upon and whether proper legal standards were applied. As an interim measure, the Court suspended the operation of the notifications related to the handing over of the officiating charge pending the final disposal of the appeal.
- Whether the legal and factual aspects of the controversy regarding a resignation have been appreciated in its true perspective by the High Court?
- Whether the genuineness and authenticity of the resignation allegedly tendered by a Nazim is above board?
- Whether the Chief Minister had acted with diligent application of mind while exercising powers under section 21 of the Balochistan Local Government Ordinance, 2001 in accepting an alleged resignation?
- Whether the acceptance of a resignation smacks of mala fides when a categoric denial of tendering such resignation was published in newspapers?
- Section 21, Balochistan Local Government Ordinance 2001
ORDER
1. JAVED IQBAL, J.--- Heard Syed Ayaz Zahoor, learned Advocate Supreme Court on behalf of petitioner, Mr. Salahuddin Mengal, learned Advocate-General, Balochistan for official respondents and Mr. Kamran Murtaza, learned Advocate Supreme Court for officiating Nazim namely Mr. Abdul Raheem Kurd, scanned the entire record with their eminent assistance and perused the judgment impugned carefully. We are inclined to grant leave, inter alia, on the following points:--
(i) Whether the legal and factual aspects of the controversy have been appreciated in its true perspective by the learned High Court while dismissing the writ petition preferred on behalf of Sardar Naseer Ahmed Mossiani (petitioner)?
(ii) Whether the genuineness and authenticity of the resignation allegedly tendered by the petitioner is above board or otherwise?
(iii) Whether the Chief Minister had acted with diligent application of mind while exercising powers as conferred upon him under section 21 of the Balochistan Local Government Ordinance, 2001 and accepted the alleged resignation tendered by the petitioner?
(iv) Whether the acceptance of resignation smacks of mala fides specially when a categoric denial was made for tendering such resignation on behalf of petitioner and published in different newspapers?
(v) Whether the petitioner had performed his functions as Nazim after tendering the alleged resignation and it was in the knowledge of Provincial Government?
(vi) Whether Sardar Naseer Ahmed Mossiani (petitioner) has any legal right to claim the seat of Nazim on the basis of Notification - bearing No,5-41 /2004 (BLCEA)/Vol-VIII/26-92-2700, dated 12th May, 2006 whereby officiating charge of Nazim was given to him.
(vii) Whether the judgment impugned is in consonance with law laid down by this Court in case Muhammad Munir-ul-Haq v. Muhammad Latif Chaudhry 1992 SCM R 2135 based on case-law enunciated in the following authorities:-- ' Farzand Ali v. Province of West Pakistan through Secretary Department of Agriculture, Government of West Pakistan, Lahore PLD 1970 SC 98; Gokaraju Rangaraju v. State of Andhra Pradesh AIR 1981 SC 1473; Secretary, Government of Punjab Food and Cooperation Department v. Shamoon Bahadur PLD 1979 SC 835; Province of Punjab through Deputy Director, Food Rawalpindi Region v.
2. Muhammad Iqbal 1984 SCM R 334; Kuchwar Line and Stone Co. Ltd. v. Secretary of State AIR 1937 Pat.
3. 65; Abraham Reuben v. The Karachi Municipality AIR 1929 Sindh 69; Union of India v. Gopal Chandra Misra AIR 1978 SC 694; Imtiaz Ahmad v. Ghulam Ali PLD 1963 SC 382; Khuda Bukhsh v. Khushi Muhammad PLD 1976 SC 208; Mst. Rehmat Bibi v. Punnu Khan 1986 SCM R 962, Muhammad Ibrahim Munshey v. Province of West Pakistan PLD 1968 SC 1; WAPDA v. Abdul Rashid Dar 1990 SCM R 1513; Province of Punjab v. Ikramul Haq 1986 SCM R 1994; Mazhar Ali v. Federation of Pakistan 1992 SCM R 435; Messrs MacDonald Layton Constrain Ltd. v. Punjab Employees Social Security Institution PLD 1991 SC 1055; Chairman District Screening Committee, Lahore v. Sharif Ahmad Hashmi PLD 1976 SC 258 and Messrs Mumtaz Industries v. IDBP PLD 1991 SC 729. The appeal be fixed at some early date and till its disposal the operation of Notifications bearing No,5-41/2004(BLCEA)/VolVIII/2636-46 dated 21st April, 2006 and No,5-41/2004(BLCEA)VolVIII-2692-2700 dated 12th May, 2006 shall remain suspended.
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