Getting their due: PHC orders promotion of public prosecutors

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court ordered the government to upgrade public prosecutors and deputy public prosecutors in various districts across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday.

The bench, comprising justices Waqar Ahmad Seth and Qaiser Rasheed, issued the orders after hearing writ petitions filed by public prosecutor Zafar Abbas Mirza and deputy public prosecutor Sangeen Shah through their counsel Qazi Jawwad Ihsanullah.

During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel argued the provincial government had announced an upgradation policy on May 9, 2009. According to this policy, all government employees were to be upgraded by a step. He said all other public officials were promoted except deputy public prosecutors who had been waiting since the day of the announcement.

Public prosecutors have been demanding a proper service structure which includes privileges such as residential facilities, official vehicles and a quota in the high court.

The prosecutors have also announced strikes and boycotted court proceedings on several occasions. The prosecutors welcomed the PHC orders and demanded the government accept its remaining demands.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2016.