Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: In a surprising move, the national assembly secretariat not only refused to implement the Supreme Court orders but withdrew the establishment branch letter regarding return of those employees and officers to their parent departments.

Sources told Daily Times that the national assembly secretariat wrote a letter to the establishment division and sought clarification of their circular on the Supreme Court’s order regarding return of deputed officers. They wished to know whether the Supreme Court decision was mandatory for national assembly secretariat as it was a constitutional body. But establishment division did not respond to the letter. In the meanwhile, the National Assembly’s own establishment branch surprisingly withdrew its own circular which he issued on the order of the Supreme Court.

Sources said that almost two dozen officers of this secretariat including special secretary qamr sohail lodhi who came on deputation but later merged themselves and became permanent employee of the secretariat. These officers submitted their reply and took the position that they completed all the requirements and then became permanent employees.

The matter is still under consideration but Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq made it clear that there would no discrimination with any employee and a decision would be made according to the rules. The officers who came on deputation and merged themselves in secretariat are mostly those who applied for posts when announced, cleared the test, interview and other requirements and then they appointed in the secretariat on those posts for which they applied, the spokesman concluded.