‘Premature’ repatriation: NCHD chief put on notice

Petitioner claims move is retribution for him challenging ‘overage’ chief’s appointment

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday ordered the chairperson of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) to appear in person before the court on Wednesday (today) in connection with a petition filed by a staffer challenging his repatriation to his parent department.

Justice Aamer Farooq summoned NCHD Chairperson Razina Alam Khan after the petitioner, Shakil Arshad, accused NCHD officials of issuing two notifications regarding repatriation to his parent department on the same day – July 12.

The petitioner, through his counsel Muhammad Umair Baloch, informed the court that two notifications were issued wherein one said that the petitioner was repatriated from July 12, while the other said repatriation has been made retroactively from June 30.

In the petition, the counsel alleged that Khan issued notifications “out of a personal grudge and enmity” with the petitioner as he had filed a petition challenging Khan’s appointment as chairperson. Baloch said that Arshad had challenged her posting on grounds that she was 73 years old whereas the age limit for the post is 65 years.

Baloch said that the impugned order was issued in order to punish the petitioner for working in the interest of the department.

Arshad, he said, is a permanent employee of the National Institute of Science and Technical Education, Islamabad, and was sent to NCHD on deputation for a period of three years to head the media department. Baloch added that the petitioner has been repatriated to his parent department prematurely.

He has prayed the court to declare the impugned orders illegal. Following the arguments, the court summoned the chairperson on July 20 (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2016.