Notice reissued in petition against Rescue 1122 DG post

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday once again issued notice to the provincial government in a writ petition challenging the designation of the post of director general of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rescue 1122 as a scheduled post.

A two-member bench of the PHC comprising Justice Shakeel Ahmad and Justice Sabitullah Khan heard the petition filed by Dr Muhammad Ayaz, the DG Rescue 1122.The bench directed the government to submit a response and extended the previously issued stay order, preventing the provincial government from appointing any PMS officer to the post.

Petitioner’s counsel Shumail Butt informed the court that his client was serving as the DG Rescue 1122. He pleaded that in 2014, the law governing Rescue 1122 stated that only an officer from the same cadre could be appointed to this position, and no PMS or CSP officer could be brought in on deputation, as it was classified as a non-scheduled post.

However, later amendments were made to the law, reclassifying the post as a scheduled post, thereby allowing officers from other services, including PMS and CSP officers, to be appointed.He argued that this amendment had disrupted the original structure of the Act and could negatively impact the seniority of the organisation’s existing employees.

The lawyer contended that these amendments were made unconstitutionally and should therefore be declared null and void.He prayed that the provincial government’s actions of designating the post as a scheduled position be declared illegal.

At this point, the Additional Advocate General requested the court for more time to prepare for the case. In response, the court extended the previously issued stay order and adjourned further proceedings.