Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought the minutes of Central Selection Board (CSB) meeting in a sealed envelope from government on the petitions filed by bureaucrats in promotion case in grade 19, 20 and 21.
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui took up for hearing petitions filed by DIG Islamabad police Aftab Ahmad Cheema, FC Commandant Ghani ur Rehman, director ISI Abdul Samad and others.
Abdul Rehman Siddiqui counsel for the petitioner and Additional Attorney General (AAG) Afnan Karim Kundi appeared in the court.
Abdul Rehman Siddiqui argued and asked under what procedure the officers have been promoted. “My clients come up to these all criterions under which they should have been granted promotions. Despite it discriminatory treatment was meted out to my clients and they were not promoted even they came up to all the norms of merit,” he added.
He also cited to Supreme Court cases pertaining to Oria Maqbool Jan Abbasi and Omar Farooq.
Afnan Karim Kundi said, “The prime minister (PM) has accorded approval on the recommendations of CSB. This is discretionary powers of PM to give approval to whom as the powers for approval rest with PM.”
The court raised a question: “Can the court nullify the promotions following the approval of the PM.”
Afnan Karim Kundi said, “The court has no such powers. CSB sends recommendations to the PM within its ambit. The will or likes and dislikes of CSB are not included in these recommendations.”
The court while seeking comments of CSB meeting in sealed envelope adjourned the hearing of the case till June 18, 2015.
Over 40 bureaucrats have filed petitions in the court against promotions in grade, 19, 20, 21.