Federal Services Tribunal upholds right of promotion of women FIA inspectors

Counsel says infringement of rights would have been 'tantamount to gender discrimination'

KARACHI:

The Federal Services Tribunal on Tuesday upheld the right of promotion of women Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) inspectors and passed a ruling in their favour.

The decision came after the tribunal dismissed an appeal which challenged the combined seniority list for male and female sub-inspectors of the FIA.

The case was heard by Justice (retd) Qazi Khalid Ali and decided in favour of the female inspectors vide judgment dated June 23, 2020.

Hasan Mandviwalla, counsel of the women inspectors, said the infringement of the women inspectors right of promotion would be "tantamount to gender discrimination and gross violation of Article 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973".

Since 2003, seniority lists issued by the federal government were in terms of promotions of male and female sub-inspectors belonging to the same group of the FIA under the FIA (Appointment Promotion and Transfer) Rules.

However, in 2008, a segregated list was issued in which women officials alienated in regards to future promotions and newly appointed male officials were promoted earlier than their more senior female counterparts.

The list was arbitrary and based on the premise that women sub-inspectors were only fit to perform limited functions and lacked the skillset and qualifications to serve in the crime and investigation wing.

The list was challenged by the women FIA officials and the matter was also contested earlier in the apex court. The ruling by the tribunal was achieved after coming to the tribunal in the third round. 

The judgement, hailed as a landmark decision by the tribunal, ensures that the rights of women FIA officials are protected under the rights granted in the Constitution