Pakistan's top court admits petition against Zaka Ashraf

 Pakistan's Supreme Court has admitted a petition filed against new PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, which questions his appointment as president of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) three years ago while still a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

A three member bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, heard the petition and then adjourned the case till November 14. This petition is unlikely to affect Ashraf's legal status as the PCB head.

Ashraf, who took over as the PCB chief from Ijaz Butt earlier this week, held the president's post of ZTBL - a bank set up to aid agriculture in the country - for three years. He was named president while on the central executive committee of the PPP, potentially flouting the rule by which political office holders are barred from holding the position of head of ZTBL. The petition also alleges that Ashraf made illegal appointments during his presidency, citing 32 cases as examples.