ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday decided to hear a petition against the restoration of the chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on a daily basis from next week.

A two-member divisional bench, comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamir Farooq, heard the petition of the federation seeking to set aside the decision of a single-member bench to restore Saeed Ahmad Khan on the post of the Ogra chairman.

Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the federal government was authorised to take action against the official of an independent institution.

Additional Attorney General Afnan Karim Kundi informed the court that the government had sent the Ogra chief on a forced leave for three months after declaring him responsible for the fuel crisis in the country and directed the Federal Public Service Commission(FPSC) to hold an inquiry against him and other officials.

He requested the court to set aside the orders of the one-member bench which had earlier ordered to restore the Ogra chairman as the inquiry was still underway. He said the federal government was authorised to remove the official from the post.

Babar Sattar, the counsel for the Ogra chairman, however, claimed that his client could not be removed from the post as Ogra was an independent institution with its own rules and procedures.

The court adjourned the hearing of the matter till April 6 after which it would be tal
It may be mentioned that on February 11 the Cabinet Division had sent Saeed Ahmed Khan on a forced leave due to his alleged role in the January fuel crisis.

Later, the forced leave was suspended by a one-member of the IHC.-APP(FPSC) to hold an inquiry against him and other officials.

He requested the court to set aside the orders of the one-member bench which had earlier ordered to restore the Ogra chairman as the inquiry was still underway. He said the federal government was authorised to remove the official from the post.

Babar Sattar, the counsel for the Ogra chairman, however, claimed that his client could not be removed from the post as Ogra was an independent institution with its own rules and procedures.

The court adjourned the hearing of the matter till April 6 after which it would be tal
It may be mentioned that on February 11 the Cabinet Division had sent Saeed Ahmed Khan on a forced leave due to his alleged role in the January fuel crisis.

Later, the forced leave was suspended by a one-member of the IHC.-APP