IHC upholds repatriation of Baitul Mal chief

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a petition filed by Dr Zeeshan Danish, Director General of Pakistan Baitul Mal, challenging the notification repatriating him to the Punjab government from his deputation posting.

In a reserved judgement, Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas upheld the Establishment Division's notification dated May 20, 2026, ruling that the decision to return the officer to his parent department had been issued by the competent authority in accordance with the law and the terms governing his deputation.

The court held that an officer serving on deputation does not possess a legal right to complete the entire deputation period as a matter of course.

According to the judgement, Dr Danish had been appointed as DG of Pakistan Baitul Mal on deputation and could not legally challenge the order directing his return to his parent department.

The court observed that the petitioner had failed to establish any misuse of authority, mala fide intent or violation of any constitutional or statutory provision in the issuance of the notification.

It further held that the petitioner could not claim to be an aggrieved party merely because he had been repatriated to his original department.

Justice Minhas also noted that the petitioner's appointment had expressly remained subject to further orders of the competent authority.

The court observed that the condition relating to the appointment of a permanent incumbent to the post had subsequently been fulfilled, with Shabana Rehman having been promoted as the permanent DG Pakistan Baitul Mal.

Following the appointment of a permanent head, the petitioner's repatriation to his parent department was both lawful and in accordance with the applicable terms of deputation, the judgement said.

The court consequently dismissed Dr Danish's petition seeking to have the May 20, 2026, notification set aside and requesting permission to continue in the post until completion of his deputation tenure.

Dr Danish had challenged the notification after he was ordered to return to his parent department before the expiry of his deputation period.