Cabinet Division submits response on plea challenging Ishaq Dar appointment as deputy PM

ISLAMABAD-The Cabinet Division has filed a response in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to a petition challenging Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s appointment as an additional deputy prime minister.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case challenging Ishaq Dar’s appointment as deputy Prime Minister.
The Cabinet Division submitted its response to the case today.

The response stated that “the deputy PM’s role is of an honorary nature and there is no established office for this position.”

Petitioner’s counsel, Riaz Hanif Rahi, claimed that Ishaq Dar was the beneficiary of this case, and that such cases’ files remained untouched.

Counsel implied that Ishaq Dar’s role as deputy PM was not constitutional, and that people were holding dual charges in 126 IHC offices. He added that over 50 petitions against dual appointments had been filed in court.

Counsel requested that the court form a larger bench in dual appointment cases to ensure good institutional governance.

According to Riaz Hanif, Ishaq Dar holds two key positions: foreign minister and deputy prime minister; similarly, the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad also serves as the chairman of the Capital Development Authority.

Counsel argued that if anyone holds unconstitutional office, the case should not be continued for even one day.


Petitioner’s counsel argued that dual appointments were an exploitation of unemployment, and that the court could make history by ruling on dual appointments.

As a result, the court has adjourned the case hearing.

It should be noted that Senator Ishaq Dar’s appointment as deputy prime minister was challenged in the IHC on May 17.

On May 16, the Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed a petition filed against Ishaq Dar’s appointment as deputy prime minister, ruling it inadmissible.

On April 28, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as an additional deputy Prime Minister.