April 22, 2006	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, April 21: The Lahore High Court has dismissed an application moved by employees of cantonments, seeking stay against their transfers. Two petition filed by 13 employees of Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments in the Rawalpindi Bench of the High Court seeking stay against the order of the Military Land and Cantonments director-general and reversal of the transfers.

Advocate Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, the counsel for employees, termed the transfers illegal and based on mala fide intentions, citing the decision of the Peshawar High Court, in which transfers of employees from one cantonment to another had been declared unconstitutional.

The Peshawar High Court verdict says cantonments are statutory bodies which themselves generate their resources. This decision was challenged in the Supreme Court, which is still pending, the petitioners’ counsel pleaded.

Defending the DG’s orders, Fazal Illahi Siddiqui Advocate argued that the petitions were not maintainable.

The defence counsel said the transfers had been made by a top official of cantonments who was the competent authority to do so.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Naseem Sikandar dismissed the petition seeking stay, while hearing of the other petition was adjourned.