Islamabad:
The High Court of Islamabad (IHC) expressed dissatisfaction on Tuesday with regard to the response of the federal government and convened the official file of the amendments given to the rules governing the presidency of the meetings of the High Power Selection Board (HPSB).
Judge Inaam Amin Minhas heard the case filed by main officials who challenged their exclusion from the consideration for the promotion of the 21st year to the 22nd year. Holding the response of the unsatisfactory federal government, the court questioned the reasons for the exclusion of promotion petitioners. “The government’s response does not explain why the petitioners were refused promotion,” said the judge.
The court ordered the federal government to produce the official file of the changes to the rules of the establishment division before the next hearing.
Representing the petitioners, Barrister Umair Ijaz Gilani, Shoaib Shaheen and Faisal Naqvi argued that last minute amendments had been brought to the rules to allow the Deputy Prime Minister to preside over the HPSB meeting in place of the Prime Minister.
Lawyers also argued that if the Prime Minister has the discretion to appoint someone to chair the board of directors, the rules cited to support the change had not been notified in the official Gazette and have not been known for any official so far.
The petitioners argued that the participation of PM Ishaq Dar and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the HPSB meeting was illegal, saying that only the Prime Minister can slightly preside over such meetings.
The Court asked the Government Council why the explanation offered relied heavily on technical details and ordered that the complete registration of any fine or modification of the relevant rules is subject before the next hearing.
