IHC halts final decision on federal police recruitment quota

ISLAMABAD, Aug 03: The Islamabad High Court has issued a directive preventing the Federal Police from making a final decision regarding the recruitment of officers from other provinces under a 50% quota.
During a hearing presided over by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani, the court ordered that the recruitment process for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police can proceed, but results for the 50% quota from other provinces cannot be finalized. The ruling allows the declaration of results for candidates with Islamabad domicile.
This decision came in response to a petition filed by Barrister SM Yawar Gurdizi, who argued that Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees equality and that Islamabad, as a federal unit, should have distinct recruitment rights. The petitioner contended that residents of other provinces should work within their respective regions, just as Islamabad residents should have employment opportunities within the capital.
The court has instructed all parties to submit detailed responses by the next hearing, scheduled for September 23. The Attorney General and Advocate General Islamabad are also required to appear to assist the court.
The petitioner called for the abolition of the quota system for other provinces in federal institutions, particularly for grades 1 to 15, and sought the allocation of posts for Islamabad residents in grades 16 to 22 within federal government institutions. Additionally, the petition requested the removal of quotas for other provinces in the subordinate judiciary and the ICT police.