Gender discrimination in promotions: Supreme Court accepts petitions of FIA's woman ASIs

The Supreme Court on Friday accepted different petitions of female employees, working with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), against discriminatory policy regarding departmental promotions on gender basis. A two-member bench comprising Justice Nasir ul Mulk and Justice Ghulam Rabbani observed that discrimination on basis of gender was not allowed as it was violation of Articles 22, 25 and 38 of the constitution.
Some nine female assistant sup-inspectors (ASIs), who were deprived of promotion to next grade, out of 130 ASIs had filed petitions in the apex court. They were recruited as ASIs in FIA in different phases from 2002 to 2007. During the course of proceedings, Hafiz S. A. Rehman, counsel for petitioners, said there was discrimination as only males were promoted. He also said women had same capabilities as of men, and they were serving in army, flying aeroplanes, performing duties in police and playing leading role in almost all fields.
The counsel contended that there was only one list of male and female officers, which was prepared three years ago and on that basis only male ASIs were promoted, who were recruited in 2008. When the court asked an FIA official about its discriminatory policy towards female employees of the agency, he said that the government had sanctioned these posts only for female ASI Immigration to keep them in mainstream and there was no discrimination between men and women. The court directed FIA to submit a detailed report in this regard within two months and adjourned further hearing.