ISLAMAABD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notice to incumbent President Zarai Tarqiati Bank of Pakistan (ZTBL) Syed Talat Mehmood, in response to a plea seeking his removal from the slot on grounds that he doesn’t meet criteria of the post under the law.

Granting 15 days, a single-member bench of the IHC Justice Aamer Farooq issued directives to respondents including Secretary Finance, Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), ZTBL through its chairman and Syed Talat Mehmood to file a reply in the matter.

The office-bearers of All Pakistan ZTBL Employees Union, including Secretary General Iqbal Khattak, President Arshad Jatt, Senior Vice President Sardar Ghulam Mustafa, Joint Secretary Akhtar Sethi and Finance Secretary Aslam Abbasi, have challenged the appointment of Syed Talat Mehmood.

While dictating order, Justice Aamir Farooq said, “Counsel for the petitioner Qazi Ahmed Naeem Qureshi contended that under the fit and proper test issued by the SBP for appointment of CEO of any financial institution, a person should have at least five years of experience at senior level as EVP and above or equivalent or as a group head of financial institution whereas incumbent President ZTBL at the time of appointment was a senior vice president and did not fulfill the criteria.”

Mahmood is said to be a close friend of Nawaz Sharif.—MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN