Replies sought in staffers upgradation

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued a written order on a petition challenging the alleged illegal upgradation of two senior officers of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and has sought replies from the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly and other respondents within 14 days.

A division bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Faheem Wali heard the petition filed by Advocate Ali Azeem Afridi. The petitioner contended that the posts of the Special Secretary and Director Law of the K-P Assembly were upgraded twice in violation of rules.

According to the petition, Fakhar Alam was appointed as a Law Officer in Grade-17 in 2010. Without completing the required eight years of service, his post was allegedly upgraded to Grade-18 in 2018. He was later promoted again and placed in Grade-19. The petitioner maintained that these upgradations were neither in accordance with the previous rules nor the new law.

During the hearing, counsel for the respondents, Advocate Bashir Wazir, argued that the petitioner himself served as the Assembly's Legal Advisor for three years but never raised such objections at the time. He contended that the first upgradation was specific to Fakhar Alam, while the second involved all Assembly employees.

He informed the court that a Finance Committee was formed on the direction of the Speaker, and promotions were granted to employees based on the committee's recommendations. The committee also approved restructuring and upgradation of various posts.

The bench inquired whether any formal notification existed approving the Finance Committee's minutes.