LHC restrains govt from appointing Lesco, Fesco CEOs

Petitioners say the posts should be filled by promoting senior officers from within the companies, not open market.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has restrained the federal government from appointing new chief executives of Lahore and Faisalabad electric supply companies on a petition challenging the appointments.

However, the court allowed that the selection process should continue. It also issued notices and sought a report from respondents by February 14.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial, hearing the petition on Tuesday, passed the order on a petition filed by Engineer Ghazanfar Ali Khan and five others challenging the recruitment of new CEOs from outside the companies instead of promoting senior officials within the companies.

The petitioners have named the cabinet and water and power secretaries, Pakistan Electric Power Company, Lahore Electric Supply Company and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company as respondents.

Earlier, the petitioners’ counsel submitted before the court that the recruitment process for appointment of new CEOs of the companies, including Lesco, Fesco and seven others, from the open market was in progress. He contended that these posts should be filled by promoting senior officers working in the engineering department of different electric supply companies.

He said that the selection process was in violation of the promotion policy and Wapda Electricity Rules 1966.

The counsel prayed that the court direct the authorities to fill the posts of CEOs of Lesco and Fesco by promoting the eligible senior-most officers currently working in the companies.