Safeguarding: High court comes to rescue of SDA employees

Restrains provincial government from taking any action against them

PESHAWAR: A division bench of the Peshawar High Court restrained the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government from taking action against employees of Sarhad Development Authority and ordered that their position remain intact.

The bench, headed by Justice Qaiser Rasheed, also issued a notice to the provincial government and sought its comments on a petition filed by the employees through Mian Mohibullah Kakakhel.

The petitioner challenged a provincial government ordinance dissolving the SDA and merging its employees and assets with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC).

The bench was informed that SDA’s assets were valued at Rs1 billion. However, the provincial government handed over the property of the provincial government in a bid to favour some industrialists.

“Earlier, a PHC bench declared the dissolution of the SDA null and void, but the provincial government issued an ordinance to counter the court ruling,” he argued.

He said the SDA comprised several zones where hundreds of employees were working to support their families.

Additional Advocate General Waqar Ahmad said protection was given to all employees who were also offered the golden handshake option.

He added legislation was in process at the provincial assembly over the ordinance. The bench, after hearing the arguments, sought a reply from the K-P advocate general and adjourned the case till September 7.

Amendment in PBC rules

The Pakistan Bar Council decided to amend its rules through which students would complete an LLB in three years instead of five. A division bench of the Peshawar High Court bench was informed of this development.

The bench, comprising Justices Qaiser Rasheed and Justice Roohul Amin, were hearing a writ petition filed by Advocate Mian Mohibullah Kakakhel.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2016.