ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan has given another blow to the Federal Government over the issue of the higher bureaucracy promotions to the Grade 22.
Supreme Court was moved earlier by the aggrieved officers who considered that their right had been snatched by the High Powered Selection Board.
The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday set aside the decision of the High Powered Selection Board (HPSB) headed by the prime minister of Pakistan regarding promotion of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers from Grade-21 to Grade-22.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heard the petition filed by Ms Raana Ahmed, challenging the decision of the High Powered Selection Board.
Raana, being a senior officer of Grade-21, was ignored by the HPSB in the promotion process.The court, after annulling the decision, directed HPSB to reconvene its meeting and decide the promotions of all concerned on merit as per seniority and record and submit a report in this regard to the court within thirty days.
Appearing on notice, former president Supreme Court Bar Association Barrister Ali Zafar, counsel for Raana Ahmed, submitted that his client had an outstanding and unblemished service record of 34 years and in seven consecutive PERs was rated as “Outstanding”, and at No6 in the seniority list and was fully entitled to promotion to Grade-22.
The political leadership could not be allowed to appoint their cronies like this, Ali Zafar contended and pointed out the arbitrariness and lack of seriousness was so much that the FBR chairman was not even present in the meeting of HPSB, while Finance who were stranger, were in the meeting to influence HPSB.
Establishment secretary confirmed that Ishaq Dar was present and the FBR chairman was absent but was consulted on phone only. The chief justice inquired as to under what capacity Ishaq Dar attended the meeting.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan, another member of the bench questioned under what information Ishaq Dar had about the FBR officers, which was not available to the FBR chairman.