Removal of prosecutors: Court dismisses petitions

Says appointments were only valid till regular recruitments were made.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday dismissed various petitions challenging the removal of more than 100 assistance prosecutors general (APGs) and deputy prosecutors general (DPGs).

Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed ruled that the challenged appointments were a stop gap arrangement and valid only for a transitory period until regular recruitments made through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).

He said that the matter had also been taken up by the Supreme Court which had decided that the APGs and DPGs will continue until new recruitments were made.

The court said that the appointments were made without going into process of law as no merit or transparency was observed at the time of their recruitment.

The petitioners said that the APGs and the DPGs were initially appointed on contract for a period of three years (extendable on performance basis) under recruitment policy of 2004.

They said that the apex court had ordered the officials to remain in office until new recruitments. They said the PPSC had not completed the process.

They said there were 50 sanctioned posts of DPGs but only 24 appointments had been made so far. They said they were being subjected to discrimination.

They asked the court to set aside order of their removal and allow them to continue working. Previously the court had restrained the Punjab government from withdrawing their perks and privileges but with the dismissal of their petition this interim order was also vacated.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2011.