The Lahore High Court on Tuesday restrained Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority (PIDA) from terminating the services of its 160 employees.

Justice Muhammad Khalid Mehmood Khan passed these orders while hearing different petitions filed by Nasim Abass and other contract employees of PIDA.

During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel arguing before the court submitted that the case was pending since 2012. He said that the petitioners were being dismissed from the services to recruit new ones.

However, an additional advocate general sought time for submitting arguments in the matter. At this, the court barred PIDA from terminating services of employees while adjourning the matter till January 20.

The petitioners through their petitions requested the court to issue directions for their regularisation in light of chief minister’s notification for regularisation of contract employees.

The petitioners submitted that they were selected after written tests and interviews but despite serving for 10 years, their services were not being regularised on the pretext that they were hired for project.