NTS services for appointment: IHC seeks explanation from secretary Wafaqi Mohtasib

Islamabad High Court has sought explanation from the secretary Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman) over procedure for engaging services of National Testing Service (NTS) for appointment of investigation officer in Islamabad Secretariat. Petitioner Nazir Ahmed Bhatti's counsel pleaded before a single-member bench of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani that his client has been deprived of the due process of recruitment as the NTS failed to issue a call letter to him for the test against the slot advertised on October 02, 2016.
Bhatti made the secretary Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman) Islamabad and the NTS project director for Wafaqi Mohtasib as respondents, terming the hiring the services of NTS as violation of PPRA Rules 2004, as NTS has not participated in bidding process initiated by the secretary Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman). Through this writ petition, the petitioner has challenged the advertisement dated 2.10.2016 for appointment of investigation officer (BS-17), initiated by Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman), Secretariat, Islamabad.
The bench said in its order, "Learned counsel for petitioner contends that petitioner fulfilled the criteria for the post of investigation officer (BS-17) but respondent No 2 NTS has not issued a call letter for the test; therefore, the petitioner has been deprived of the due process of recruitment. The Learned counsel for petitioner has also assailed the procedure of hiring of the NTS by the respondent No 1 (secretary Wafaqi Mohtasib) for the recruitment process of different positions."
Seeking details from the secretary Wafaqi Mohtasib, the bench said in its order: "It is a question of public importance, which requires proper appreciation; therefore, let notice be issued to the secretary Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman) Secretariat, Islamabad, to (furnish details) as under which procedure they have engaged the services of NTS". The hearing of the matter was adjourned till March 09.