Appointment of Punjab ombudsman: LHC seeks criteria for induction of retired army officers in civil service

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Thursday hearing a petition against appointment of Maj Azam Suleman Khan (retd) as Punjab Ombudsman directed a law officer to apprise him of the criteria being observed for the induction of retired army officers in the civil service. The law officer, however, sought time from the court when asked to cite the relevant law being exercised for the nomination of the army officers.

The court adjourned the hearing till October 28 accordingly. Dr Khalid Ranjha submitted an amended reply on behalf of Azam Suleman. Earlier the Chief Justice asked the law officer, "Whether the retired army officers are nominated by the army chief on the basis of any criteria or personal liking?"

The CJ also questioned the transparency of the process for the nominations of retired army officers by the army chief for their induction in the civil service. The Chief Justice posed several queries to the law officer with a warning of summoning the secretary for defence if they were not answered appropriately.

The law officer stated that the former chief secretary had joined the civil service under a quota reserved for the army. He said the Ministry of Defence recommended the appointment under the quota reserved for the army officers. The petitioner had submitted that the law had been amended with malafide intention to accommodate favourite individuals and officers.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020