Based on merit: Formulation of appointment rules sought in sports dept

PHC told the process is in final stage and will be completed soon

PESHAWAR: The provincial government has been directed to formulate rules for the appointment and promotion of senior officials in the sports department to ensure there is no discrimination.

A Peshawar High Court bench comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Haider Ali Khan issued the directives on Tuesday while hearing a petition filed by Sports Director Rashida Ghaznavi, who lost a promotion to an official who did not belong to the sports directorate.



Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik, the petitioner’s counsel, told the bench that when the post of sports director general fell vacant, the provincial government appointed a DG from another department on deputation instead of promoting someone from within the department.

Malik claimed the government has violated rules and merit and the appointment has severely affected the petitioner’s seniority. “She was on the top of the seniority list and was entitled to the promotion,” he added.

Additional Advocate General Qaiser Ali Shah informed the court that the government has formulated rules for appointments and promotions of senior officials in the department.

He added the process was in its final stage and will be completed in a few days.

Shah further said that the official against whom the petition was filed has been transferred back to his department.

Subsequently, the court disposed of the petition and issued directives that the formulation of relevant rules be expedited to avoid discrimination in appointments and promotions.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2014.