PHC restrains govt from actions against employees

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: A two-member bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Ijaz Khan Sabi has restrained the federal government from taking any adverse actions against the petitioners and issued a notice to the government for response in a writ petition filed against the cancellation of the recruitment process of employees in the Postal Services from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was initiated 15 months ago, on Friday.

The counsel Sultan Muhammad Khan and Babar Khan Yousufzai advocates argued that the petitioners were appointed in 2023 after completing all the requirements and passing the relevant tests. They stated that the recruitment process was transparent and merit-based, and that the employees were appointed after a thorough scrutiny of their documents.

The lawyers argued that some elements, due to personal likes and dislikes, initiated an inquiry into the recruitment process and recommended cancellation of the appointments. They stated that the inquiry was conducted without giving the petitioners an opportunity to be heard and without pointing out any deficiencies in their documents.

The lawyers further argued that the Peshawar High Court had previously ruled in a similar case that transparency is essential in any department, and that a screening test is necessary to ensure merit. They stated that the test conducted by the Postal Services was lawful and in accordance with the rules.

PHC restrained the federal government from taking any action against the petitioners and issued a notice to the government, seeking a response after hearing arguments while adjourned further hearings.