CJP questions ECP's decision of banning recruitment in govt institutions

Asserting that he has taken a suo motu notice to ensure that elections are held on time, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar questioned Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision regarding hiring ban on government jobs.

The CJP, along with Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, commenced the hearing on Monday. Opposing ECP's ban on recruitment in government jobs, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh had filed petitions in respective high courts.

The CJP asked the ECP secretary Babar Yaqoob whether the commission had the authority to order a ban on government jobs. Yaqoob replied that as it was ECP's  responsibility to ensure that fair elections were held, ECP were taking measures to fulfill that purpose, local media reported.

Issuing a notice to the attorney general of Pakistan and all advocate generals to assist in the issue, the bench adjourned the hearing till tomorrow (April 24).

In a statement on April 11, ECP had put a ban on recruitment in public institutions and had also stated that development plans like carpeting of roads, water supply and installation of the gas pipelines would be halted. The funds for the projects would also not be transferred so as to prevent them from being used for other schemes, the statement read.