Punjab Emergency Service/Rescue-1122: Verdict reserved on ex-DG's plea seeking regularisation of services

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a petition of former Director Generals (DG) of Punjab Emergency Service (PES)/Rescue-1122 Dr Rizwan Naseer seeking regularization of his services.

Earlier, a deputy secretary of home department told the LHC that the posts of DG of (PES)/Rescue-1122 and its academy will be advertised and filled as per the existing rules.

He further stated that the post of DG Emergency Service Academy had been created in 2015 and Dr Rizwan Naseer was appointed in 2006 on a contract basis.

He said under the law neither Dr Naseer could be regularized as DG Rescue 1122 nor appointed as DG of the academy.

Responding to petitioner's desire of appointing him as DG of the academy if regularization was not possible, the deputy secretary made it clear that the government will advertise the posts as no post could be filled according to someone's wish.

Last week, the court had also reserved its verdict on a petition of District Emergency Officer, Lahore Dr Ahmad Raza challenging the new contract awarded to Dr Rizwan Naseer 80 days after expiry of his previous contract.

The petitioner through his counsel Ch Shoaib Saleem argued that the respondent had been appointed for more than five times as DG of the Rescue 1122 in past, which showed that there was no other person capable enough to run the affairs of body.

He said the last contract of the respondent expired on October 16, 2019 but after almost 80 days of expiry of the contract, the home department illegally extended the contract of the respondent on January 06, 2020.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020