Court tells govt to appoint physically challenged first

GILGIT: In what could be a landmark ruling, a Gilgit court has directed the government to ensure that people with disabilities, women and minorities are appointed before other staff is appointed in any government department.

The decision was handed down by the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court in response to a petition filed by two physically challenged women, seeking implementation of the government quota for special people. The petitioners, Syeda Salmi Khanum and Tehreen Rasheed were the first to move court  for their rights.

“The respondents are legally bound to make recruitments against posts in strict adherence to the policy of first appointing women and minorities,” read the order addressed to chief secretary and secretaries of various departments.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2017.