Lahore High Court here Tuesday dismissed various petitions challenging removal of more than 100 assistance and deputy prosecutor generals. The court held that their appointment was a stopgap arrangement and valid only for a period until regular recruitment is done, through Punjab Public Service Commission.
The court further ruled that matter was also agitated in the Supreme Court and it was decided the officers would remain as APG and DPG until new recruitment made through PPSC, and that Punjab government had completed the process in accordance with the SC direction. All petitioners were given full opportunity to participate in the process but they either opted to stay way or failed to meet the criteria set by law.
The court further observed that initial appointments on regular basis could only be affected under the auspices of PPSC, while the petitioners were appointed without going into the process of law as no merit or transparency was observed at the time of their recruitment. The petitioners had argued that they were initially appointed as APG and DPG on contract basis for a period of three years (extendable on performance basis) under recruitment policy 2004.