Illegal appointments: PHC summons Khyber Agency surgeon

Accused of hiring technicians in 2010 in violation of rules of procedure.


Our Correspondent March 02, 2015
The counsel said his clients qualified for the posts in question but could not apply, and were refused records available in the surgeon’s office. PHOTO: PPI

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Monday directed the Khyber Agency surgeon to appear in person and explain his position in an illegal appointments case.

The order was issued by a division bench comprising Justice Abdul Latif Khan and Justice Lal Jan Khattak during the hearing of a petition filed by Muhammad Mustafa and Naik Muhammad, residents of Khyber Agency. Of the petitioners, the former is a qualified Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) technician while the latter qualifies for the post of malaria supervisor.

In the petition filed through their counsel Wilayat Ali Shah, Mustafa and Muhammad said the agency surgeon allegedly appointed technicians for the EPI without following the rules of procedure.

They accused the surgeon of appointing numerous technicians on BPS-9 posts between April 12, 2010 and August 23, 2010 without following official formalities. The posts were not advertised nor was any notification made public, stated the petitioners. “We came to know of the appointments on the posts of junior technician, dispenser, junior EPI technician, malaria supervisor, pharmacy technician and others through our own sources.”

The counsel said his clients qualified for the posts in question but could not apply, and were refused records available in the surgeon’s office.

“In the absence of any advertisement, my clients were not aware of the vacancies. The appointment process was not transparent at all,” added Shah.

The court was requested to declare the appointments null and void and direct the relevant authorities to evaluate the petitioners’ applications on merit and appoint them.

Upon hearing the arguments, the court summoned the Khyber Agency surgeon to appear in person along with the complete office record on the next hearing and explain his position.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2015.

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