NBP inducts its sacked employees after delaying SC orders for 8 years

The apex court had passed a conclusive order directing the NBP to regularise its employees in 2004.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday discharged the contempt of court notice against President National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), after a bank official informed the court that its two sacked employees were inducted back with benefits as per the court order.

A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard the contempt of court proceeding against the NBP President Qamar Hussain who had earlier failed to comply with court orders seeking regularisation of its employees.

NBP employees Muhammad Abid Qureshi and Arif Khan had filed a petition in 2004 after being, what he claimed was an unlawful sacking by the bank, demanding their services be regularised. Qureshi and Khan were appointed on a permanent post of warehouse guards in the NBP Multan region on January 1988 and October 1989 respectively but their services were not regularised and they were dismissed from their job in 2004.

The apex court had passed a conclusive order directing the NBP to regularise these employees and absorb them back in service with effect from September 21, 2004. The court order also asked the bank to issue appointment letters to them within one months time.

After failing to implement the court order for eight years, NBP President and regional chief Multan were directed to appear before the bench and explain their position.

The NBP officials stated that they had failed to understand the court instructions regarding the case and hence apologise for the delay. NBP counsel Khawaja Muhammad Farooq appeared before the bench with two cheques of worth Rs1.5 million and Rs2 million for the sacked employees while NBP president also tendered an unconditional apology.

During the hearing, Chief Justice said that the judiciary will defend its people and asked NBP President to choose a penalty for himself, to which the president has sought unconditional pardon from the Supreme Court.