Fallen to terrorism: Govt directed to increase ASI quota for children of martyred policemen

PHC told only 5% ASI seats have been set aside at the moment.

PESHAWAR: The provincial government has been directed by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to increase the quota of assistant sub-inspector (ASI) seats reserved in the police department for children of policemen who died in terrorist attacks.

A PHC bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Muhammad Daud Khan issued the directives to the government on Wednesday while hearing a case filed by Murshid Alam, the son of deceased superintendent of police (SP) Khurshid Alam.

Around 50% of seats in the police department are reserved for children of policemen (of any rank) who were martyred in terrorist attacks; of these 5% seats are reserved for the post of ASI.

The high court bench ordered that since the police department has 50% reserved seats for children of martyred policemen, it should adjust ASI seats among those.



Family woes

Petitioner Murshid’s counsel Aminur Rehman Yousafzai told the court his client’s father died in a clash with terrorists in 2012. He added at that time Murshid was a first year student of engineering and was told he would be appointed in the police department as an ASI. “My client left his education, but he has not been given that job to this day,” said the lawyer.

He further said the deceased SP’s family is going through a difficult time because they lost the family head to militants and despite waiting for several years his son has not been appointed to the position allocated by the government.

“Senior police officials told my client he would be appointed ASI under the Shuhada package and 5% quota. His name is on number 102 on the list of candidates, it will take years for him to join,” said Yousafzai.

The counsel said this was an injustice with children of martyred policemen because their fathers died fighting terrorism and they are not even given their due rights.

“There is a 50% quota for children of martyred policemen; my client and others like him can be adjusted in the department so that the families of fallen officials are given respect,” he added.

However, Additional Advocate General Qaiser Ali Shah argued, “this quota was reserved by the provincial government and the police department cannot bypass that law.”

Shah contended if more ASI seats are to be added, the provincial government’s approval was needed first.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court directed the provincial government to increase the quota for ASIs. The court also ordered that if the applicant’s age is expected to exceed the required age for any post by the time a seat is vacant, that case be considered special and the appointment process be sped up.

Over the past few months, families of policemen who perished in terrorist attacks have begun to approach the high court to receive the Shuhada package and secure appointments for their children.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2015.