Ashraf's lawyer claims SC order suspending PCB appointment 'misinterpreted' by govt

The legal advisor for Mohammad Zaka Ashraf has claimed that the order by the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspending his re-appointment as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been 'misinterpreted' by the government.

Ashraf, who was reinstated by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), was again forced to step down in favour of former chairman Najam Sethi by the SC, which suspended his appointment after an appeal by the Inter-Provincial Co-ordination ministry (IPC).

According to the Express Tribune, Shehryar Kasuri, the legal advisor for Ashraf, claimed the SC order has been misinterpreted by the IPC, saying that whenever the operation of a judgement is suspended by an interim order, it means 'the High Court judgement will remain stayed and the status quo will be maintained'.

Kasuri also said that therefore, any action taken prior to the passing of the interim order should remain protected unless specifically reversed by the apex court, adding that the assumption of office of the chairman of PCB by Sethi is based on misinterpretation of the interim order of the SC by the IPC ministry.

However, IPC's lawyer Asma Jahangir said that the ministry asked Sethi to resume office after carefully studying the SC order.