Daily Times

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Friday ordered the government to promote public prosecutors and deputy public prosecutors to next grades working in different districts across the province.

The bench comprised of Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Qaiser Rasheed issued the orders while hearing writ petitions filed by Public Prosecutor Zafar Abbas Mirza and deputy public prosecutor Sangeen Shah through their counsel Qazi Jawwad Ihsanullah.

When hearing started, the petitioners’ counsel argued that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on May 9, 2009 announced up-gradation policy under which all government employees were one-step promotion. Qazi Jawwad argued that all government employees were promoted across the province even assistant public prosecutors were promoted in grade 17 from grade 16 and government pleaders in grade 19 under the said policy.

He said that public and deputy public prosecutors were ignored who have been waiting since then and being ignored continuously which was discrimination.

He prayed the bench to order upgradation of the petitioners as there was a policy under which other government employees were given promotion.

The bench after hearing the arguments ordered the provincial government that the prosecutors and deputy public prosecutors be promoted in next grades in light of the policy.

Public prosecutors have been demanding a proper service structure and other perks and privileges including provision of residential facilities, official vehicles and quota in high court.

The prosecutors have also announced strikes and boycotted court proceedings several times. The prosecutors welcomed the PHC orders and demanded of the government to accept its remaining demands.