IHC judge recuses himself from deputationists’ case

ISLAMABAD  –  Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir on Friday recused himself from hearing a petition challenging the repatriation of section officers appointed on deputation after disclosing that attempts had been made to approach him through recommendations and telephone calls. During the hearing, the single-judge bench headed by Justice Arbab expressed displeasure over the attempts to contact him, describing them as inappropriate.

“You get recommendations made and have calls made to me. This is not how things work. It is wrong and inappropriate,” the judge remarked.

“Everything else may be fine, but you had calls made to me. This is inappropriate,” he added. The judge subsequently declined to hear the case and referred the matter to the office of IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar for further action.

The petitioners, who are section officers serving on deputation and were originally employed as teachers, have challenged the notification directing them to return to their respective provincial departments. They have also sought a declaration that they be regularised and absorbed into the Office Management Group (OMG).

During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioners, Raja Aleem Abbasi, appeared before the court and explained that his clients were seeking to retain their positions in Islamabad rather than return to their parent departments in their respective provinces.

Justice Arbab observed that the legal arguments could be considered, but maintained that attempts to contact him through recommendations and telephone calls were improper.

The petitioners include Khalid Mahmood, Muhammad Arif, Dilshad Ahmed, Saeed Chaudhry, Dr Muhammad Ismail and Najeebullah.

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