KARACHI: The High Court of Sindh has directed the government “to follow the guidelines issued in 1981, 2001 and 2005 and no appointments or postings be done in violation of government policies and guidelines referred to above till the next hearing”.

The directive was issued when the case came up for hearing here on March 14, in the suit filed against selection of trade officers, for declaration and injunction, by D L Nash, a joint venture company with French company M/s Duquennoy Et Lepers.

Federation of Pakistan and a private university, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) had been cited as defendants in the suit. LUMS had been entrusted with the task of conducting written tests for the selection of Trade Officers.

The plaintiff had submitted that, as a result, his entire annual exports of approximately Rs two billion have been placed in jeopardy and that he shall be severely prejudiced in the absence of injective relief.

It was contended by the counsel for plaintiff that the government had framed policy guidelines for appointment of trade officers abroad in 1981, 2001 and 2008. He submitted that the said policies are made by the establishment division and Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan.

It was further submitted that on the similar facts a writ petition No.801/2013 filed by Muhammad Irfan Tarar vs Federation of Pakistan and other is pending before the Islamabad High Court, wherein an order to maintain status-quo was passed on Feb 27, 2013. The counsel urged that the post of trade officer abroad in Pakistan Consulate is very important and appointments on those posts should be done strictly in accordance with the guideline issued by the government in that regard from time-to-time. The case was adjourned to April 3, 2013 for further hearing.