The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday restrained the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) from making further appointments for the post of legal assistant directors and issued a notice to the LDA director general for September 26. LHC Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued this order on a petition moved by Sohail Mushtaq, a candidate, who contended that LDA’s appointment of four legal assistant directors was not based on merit, as those appointed had secured less than 50 percent marks on the NTS while Mushtaq had more than 50 percent marks on the test.
He said that he had been rejected after the interview, while the other candidates had been awarded extraordinary marks on the interview and were selected. Mushtaq alleged that the appointments had not been made on merit; rather were the result of political interference. The petitioner-lawyer also challenged the abolition of one of the seats for the said post. He requested that the court set aside the appointments made on political grounds. The court issued a stay order and sought reply from respondent.
