ISLAMABAD – Almost all of the top officials in the Law Ministry continue to work on a contractual basis in blatant violation of Supreme Court orders telling the government not to hire any retirees on contract. “Law Secretary Masood Chishti is working on contract and so is the case with five senior joint secretaries Attaullah Bangash, Syed Rafique Shah, Baqir Ali Rana, Dr Riaz and Manzoor Mirza. They are all working on a contractual basis,” an informed source told Pakistan Today on Sunday.
The source said the violation was even more significant because the Law Ministry was the organ that provided legal assistance to the government. “If most of the important officials are themselves working in violation of the apex court’s orders, how can they advise the government honestly?” the source questioned. “This (violation) does not end here and even a retired DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) Munir Leghari, who has not even a single day’s experience of legislation, is working on contract as a legislative officer. Draftsman Hakim Khan, above 70 years of age, is also on contract while the Solicitor General Syed Nasir Ali Shah is also on contract,” added the source.
“Six section officers of the Law Ministry, namely Malik Maqbool, Imtiaz Ahmed, Malik Zulfiqar, Dost Mohammed, Mohammed Siddique and Abdul Munaaf Khattak, are all working on contractual basis too,” the source said. The source said further that a grade 15 assistant named Inayatullah, a stenographer named Lehrasip and a Naib Qasid named Aziz were also working on contract. Establishment Division Secretary Abdur Rauf Chauhdry confirmed that several officials were working in the Law Ministry on contract. “Yes, the ministry has reported them to the five-member review committee formed by the prime minister.
The committee has been tasked to review all employees working on contract in various ministries in line with the Supreme Court orders. The committee will take up the matter in its upcoming meeting,” he added. The law secretary was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.
