IHC seeks details of transfer of officers

Gives ECP till next Tuesday to implement its notification regarding transfers

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court has sought details regarding the transfer of officers on the orders of the Election Commission of Pakistan under the caretaker government, ordering the electoral body to inform about the number of federal secretaries appointed by the previous government still working.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the petition against transfer of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Deputation Officer Member Planning Waseem Hayat Bajwa.

The CDA chairman had issued orders to send petitioner Bajwa back to his department – Inland Revenue – in light of the Election Commission's orders, which he challenged in the IHC.

The court directed the ECP to follow its notification regarding the transfer without discrimination, adding that if the order of the ECP was not followed without discrimination by next Tuesday, the order would be suspended in this case.

Noting that the ECP had specifically written about the police in its notification, the court inquired as to how many transfers had been made so far?

The court also inquired whether the CDA chairman and the chief commissioner were transferred at the behest of the ECP.

The ECP director general law said, “The two officers were transferred on our request.” Justice Aurangzeb asked, “Has the notification regarding the transfer been implemented? “For six or eight months, the secretary education has been the same.”

Justice Aurangzeb noted that the ECP wanted to transfer these officers because these were the ones who had been appointed by the previous government.

“Were these the only people who were appointed or were there some secretaries who are still present? I asked on the previous date if the secretary education appointed for seven or eight months is the same.”

The court told the ECP DG law that the electoral body was being given another chance to implement its notification without discrimination.

Justice Aurangzeb said Justice Nasirul Mulk was also the caretaker prime minister. “He once said that the Election Commission does everything during the caretaker period.

“The Election Commission cannot pick and choose in its orders during caretaker period. The court is showing patience and giving the Election Commission another chance.”

The court inquired from the DG Law that the name of the “police has been specifically written by you […] how many people have been transferred”?

“It also seems that the orders of the Election the Commission are not being obeyed.”

The court adjourned the hearing till next Tuesday while directing the Election Commission to implement the notification without discrimination.