The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed all parties to file para-wise comments before the next hearing in a case concerning the regularization of 43 contract employees of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Grade 16 and above. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued a two-page written order following the hearing. The court allowed the petitioners’ miscellaneous application seeking to place additional documents on record. The order noted that despite the passage of considerable time, the respondents had failed to submit their para-wise comments. Counsel for the federation, other respondents and the Additional Director of the NCCIA sought further time to file their replies. The court directed all respondents to submit their para-wise comments before the next hearing and fixed July 24, for further proceedings. The court’s earlier interim order restraining the NCCIA from taking disciplinary action against the petitioners will remain in force. Separately, the Islamabad High Court reserved its verdict on a petition filed by Director General (DG) Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, Dr Zeeshan Danish challenging a notification repatriating him to the Punjab government from his deputation post. Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas heard arguments from both sides and observed that the authority which deputes an officer also has the power to recall his services. Representing the petitioner, Advocate Shah Khawar argued that Dr. Danish’s deputation tenure had not yet expired and that one year of his term still remained. He said the petitioner had uncovered major fraud cases while serving as an inquiry officer and was still conducting inquiries. Drawing a comparison, Khawar referred to the appointment of Pakistan’s finance minister from outside the government, arguing that appointments from outside the regular service structure were not unprecedented. The court inquired whether the petitioner’s deputation period had been completed, to which counsel replied that it had not. Counsel for Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, Hafiz Arafat, argued that Dr. Danish had been appointed on deputation as director general but his services had since been returned to the Punjab government. He further submitted that despite the notification, the petitioner had refused to relinquish charge and continued to claim the office. “How can two people work on the same post?” the counsel argued before the court. After hearing detailed arguments from both sides, the court reserved its judgment.
IHC seeks comments in NCCIA employees’ regularisation case
Published on: July 17, 2026 1:22 AM