IHC declares 400 promotions in bureaucracy void

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday declared the promotions of Prime Minister (PM) Secretariat’s Additional Secretary Fawad Hassan among more than 400 other high-level bureaucrats as null and void and against the law and asked the government to make a new formula for the promotions.
The IHC has also rejected the Central Selection Board’s 15 number formula to determine promotions. The court has ordered the establishment division to chalk out a new formula for the promotions of bureaucrats.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddique gave the verdict in the case that was earlier reserved. Former inspector general (IG) Islamabad Aftab Cheema, Deputy Commandant Frontier Corps (FC) Ghaniur Rehman, former capital city police officer (CCPO) Peshawar Syed Imtiaz Altaf among 50 officials had challenged the recent promotions.
The plaintiff party had claimed that officials belonging to Punjab alone were promoted on recommendations of the selection board. The party claimed that the step has been taken to seek favours in the coming general elections.
However, the IHC ordered the authorities to approach Central Selection Board in the matter within one month.Promotions of as many as 400 government officials of basic scales 19, 20 and 21 have been retracted.