ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notice to the Ministry of Information in a petition seeking direction to set aside an impugned order regarding posting of press officer in Pakistan mission abroad. 
A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah issued the notices in a petition moved by Kashif Zaman, Deputy Director Press Information Department (PID), and cited Federation of Pakistan through Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Director General (Legal) PID as respondents.
The petitioner stated in his petition that the Special Selection Board’s selection of Information Group officers for posting as Press Attache (BS-18) and Press Counsellor (BS-19) in various Pakistan missions abroad has been finalised but its selection of Minister Press (BS-20) for posting at Pakistan High Commission in London has been deferred for unknown reasons.
He informed the court that the Ministry of Information initiated the process in June 2021 for selection of press officers for posting in Pakistani missions abroad and the ministry organised the written tests on 26th June which were conducted by the NUST.
Kashif added that the petitioner was one of the two officers to sit for the written test for the post of Minister Press in London while other eligible officers chose not to appear for their own personal reasons and the petitioner was the only candidate to qualify in the written test.
He told the bench that subsequently, the successful candidates appeared before the Special Selection Board and the oral interviews were conducted on June 19 and followed by individual plan presentations of candidates on July 26.
Zaman contended that the decision not to implement the Special Selection Board’s recommendations only in respect of one post – that of Minister Press in London – is a violation of the principle of merit and impartiality and grossly unfair to the rights of the petitioner who fulfilled the eligibility criteria, qualified the written test and performed well in oral tests.
He adopted that the qualifying for the prestigious post of Press Information in London as a principal and sole candidate is indeed a big honour especially for a person hailing from a smaller province like Balochistan and the denial of right to the petitioner which he duly deserves is only bound to reinforce the feeling that those from smaller provinces are not treated as equals.
He maintained that the impugned order is void ab initio, illegal, unlawful, arbitrary and against the rights of the petitioner. He also said that the reasons given by the respondents in the said order are nullity in the eye of law and against the policy on the subject as the petitioner had already crossed the benchmark as declared by the respondents.
“However, the respondents due to mala fide, ulterior motives and just to victimise, the petitioner denied the appointment/posting as Minister Press in London to the petitioner,” said the petitioner.
The petitioner officer continued that the impugned order has neither been passed in the public interest nor in the exigency of service, hence the same order is mala fide, coram-non-judice and nullity in the eye of law.
He argued that the said order is based on discrimination as all other officers have been treated differently and last year, only one was selected against a post of New Delhi. “Therefore, the reason given by the respondents that the petitioner is the only candidate who has qualified the test and interview is justified in any manner whatsoever,” added the petitioner.
Therefore, he prayed to the court that the instant writ may be accepted and the impugned order dated 17-8-2021 may be set aside and in consequence thereof, the respondents may be directed to accord approval to the selection of the petitioner as Press Minister in London in the interest of justice.