Record of grade 18 officers on deputation sought

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday directed Punjab chief secretary to furnish record of all grade-18 officers who are currently working against grade-19 posts.

The issue came to fore during the hearing of a petition challenging appointment of additional information secretary, Jehangir Anwar, who has been appointed on grade-19 despite being an officer of grade-18. Justice Shujaat Ali Khan observed that how it is possible that a junior officer of grade-18 has been accorded a higher post of grade-19. Justice Khan directed the Punjab chief secretary to produce record regarding illegal appointment of grade-18 officers to grade-19 scale by observing that no appointment can be made on the basis of favouritism.

The court converted this petition into a public interest case. The petition has been filed against the appointment of Jehangir Anwar as additional information secretary, through Sheraz Zaka advocate. The counsel contended that Jehangir Anwar is a BS-18 officer whereas he has been given the charge of BS-19 which is a sheer violation of Supreme Court judgement. He pointed out that SC held that a junior officer cannot be given a senior scale post.

He argued that the appointment made by chief minister and chief secretary Punjab should be declared in violation of merit and law. He contended that principles of good governance are being violated by giving preference to junior officers. After hearing preliminary arguments, the court issued notice to chief secretary and sought record for 30 January, 2018.

Notices: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued notices to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and ministry of law and justice on a petition seeking right to vote for overseas Pakistanis in upcoming general election of 2018.

Engineer Muhammad Ilyas, a Pakistani-Malaysian citizen, pleaded his petition in person saying millions of Pakistanis living abroad had been sending remittances of billions of dollars to homeland every year. However, he said, the overseas Pakistanis had not been given their constitutional right to vote in the election. The petitioner claimed that around three million out of a total population of 220 million were registered as voters with the ECP. He said it was very unfortunate that the leaders elected with the votes of minority population had been ruling the whole country.