Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Tuesday took exception to Sindh government’s failure to ensure implementation of rules and regulations relating to appointment of officials to various departments.

Taking up an application against 279 “illegal” appointments to the provincial health department, the chief justice asked: Does the Sindh government want to settle this issue through connivance or committees?

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Jamali was hearing a suo motu case against 279 “illegal” appointments to the Sindh health department. The chief justice took notice of the “illegal” appointments last month after Akbar Ali Khoso, president of the Jacobabad chapter of the Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association, moved an application to the court against the appointments. He pleaded that “illegal” appointments were made on the basis of bogus structures in the provincial health department. He said that he complained to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other federal and provincial authorities about the appointments, but to no avail.

Khoso also attached with his application a list of 273 people who were “illegally” appointed and promoted. He asked the court to verify all these appointments and take legal action against corrupt people behind these appointments if it is established that they were made illegally.

The Sindh health department submitted an application to the Supreme Court’s Human Rights Cell, stating that findings of an enquiry committee on the matter had been sent to the anti-corruption authorities that would investigate the issue thoroughly. The provincial health department said that action would be taken against those involved, on the basis of the report of the anti-corruption authorities.

The chief justice however expressed his dissatisfaction with the health department’s explanation and directed the court staff to convert the application into a constitutional petition under Article 184 (3) of the constitution. This is the first suo motu case of 2016.

During the hearing, Sindh Additional Advocate General Sarwar Khan and health secretary appeared before the court.

Khoso sought court’s permission to submit more documents to show the extent of the violation of rules and regulations in the appointments. He said that even male nurses were appointed to the posts of female nurses and midwives.

The chief justice observed that it was the right of the people of Sindh to get appointed to government departments on merit.

The additional advocate general told the court that the Sindh chief secretary had formed a committee to investigate the allegedly illegal appoints to the posts of grade 1 to 17 at the District Health Office. He informed the court that the committee would submit its report within one month.

Justice Ameer Hani Muslim, one of the members of the
bench, questioned the selection procedure and if the same procedure was being followed in all districts of the province.

The additional advocate general sought one month to submit a report on the appointments. The court directed him to submit the report within two weeks and adjourned the hearing.