Turned down: PHC disposes petition challenging hiring of hospital CEOs

Says government is in a position to make decisions it deems fit.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday disposed of a writ petition challenging the appointment of chief executive officers (CEOs) of four public hospitals in the province and ordered the government to deal with the matter.

The petition was filed by the incumbent CEOs of Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH), Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) and Ayub Medical Complex (AMC) in an attempt to halt the appointment process. A division bench comprising PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Musarrat Hilali, however, stated the government had full authority to run the affairs of any department and no interference is warranted unless an unconstitutional step is taken.



Ijaz Anwer and Qazi Zia Zahid, the counsels for petitioners, informed the court the provincial government had started the process for appointing CEOs of Lady Reading Hospital, KTH, HMC and AMC, but those currently serving at the posts have not yet completed their three-year tenure.

“The process of appointment is not transparent because there is a possibility that those who might be appointed could have strong affiliations with the provincial government. The court must stop this process and let the current CEOs complete their tenure,” argued Anwer.

Disposing the petition, the bench declared a democratic government had the authority to take any action in the interest of the public and the court will not interfere in such matters.

A PHC division bench comprising Justice Malik Manzoor and Justice Ikramullah Khan had earlier issued a stay order on the appointments of the CEOs on August 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.