November 1, 2001	Thursday	Shaba’an 14, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the federal government to consider the desirability of extending service law to Northern Areas and establishment of service tribunal there within three months.

Till such time, it was observed, the employees of Northern Areas may invoke the jurisdiction of ordinary courts.

Federal Service Tribunal had refused to entertain seniority appeals of an employee of Northern Areas police. An appeal was filed against the order in the Supreme Court.

The appellant’s lawyer Sheikh Riazul Haque advocate argued that nobody could be left without remedy and, therefore, employees of the Northern Areas might be allowed to approach the FST or a separate service tribunal might be created for them.

Deputy Attorney General Yawar Ali appeared on behalf of the federal government.

The SC held that employees of NAs were not civil servants and they could not approach the FST.

The court, however, issued direction to the federal government to consider the extension of service laws in the NAs and to establish a service tribunal for the areas within three months.

The SC bench consisted of Justice Mohammad Bashir Jehangiri, Justice Munir A. Sheikh and Justice Rana Bhagwan Das.