Plea against 10th NFC: IHC gives federal govt two weeks to submit reply

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday gave the federal government two weeks to submit reply on a petition against the 10th National Finance Commission (NFC). The IHC bench directed the Ministry of Finance to submit within two weeks its response to the petition filed by Pakistan Muslin League-N (PML-N) senior leader Khurram Dastagir Khan. Advocate Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha and Umar Gilani appeared before the court on behalf of the petitioner. During the hearing, the court expressed anger over the reply of government. Giving remarks on the on-page report, the court stated that this is only report, asking that did consultation hold on the matter. The court also remarked that argue after the reply of the respondents. An official of the Ministry of Finance requested the court to give more time to submit reply on the petition. Granting the request, the bench adjourned the hearing until June 18. Earlier, the IHC had issued notices to the federal government on the petition challenging the composition of the 10th National Finance Commission. It is noteworthy that former senator Javed Jabbar last week announced his resignation from the 10th NFC. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Alyani had nominated him as non-statutory member from Balochistan to the 10th NFC that President Dr Arif Alvi constituted vide a notification put out on May 12.