MUZAFFARABAD: Already faced with a contempt of court notice, for the alleged violation of the status quo, on inductions and postings in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly secretariat, Speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq has recently recruited a minister’s brother in BPS-17, Dawn has learnt, on Monday.

This induction is one of the several steps taken, by the Peoples’ Party government in AJK, to woo the parliamentary party members, almost all of whom are holding ministerial positions, amid the renewed efforts to topple Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed.

Sources in the Legislative Assembly (LA) secretariat told Dawn, on condition of anonymity, that Raja Daniyal Rathore, the brother of Raja Faisal Rathore, the minister for electricity, had been clandestinely recruited as a reporter in BPS-17, a few days ago.

According to the relevant rules, the reporter, who has to take notes of assembly’s proceedings, has to be proficient in typing and shorthand, with a prescribed speed.

When contacted, the LA secretary, Chaudhry Basharat Hussain, confirmed the appointment, which has been made “on temporary basis.”

He maintained that the speaker was competent to make such appointments and amend the rules, but declined to answer any further questions.

It may be recalled that in November, last year, the AJK High Court had accepted a petition against the LA, challenging the process of the creation of posts and the recruitment, in the LA secretariat.

The court had restrained the speaker from holding tests and interviews for almost 48 posts, advertised by the LA secretariat at that time.

The petitioner, Khawaja Atif Bashir, had particularly sought the annulment of the appointment of the speaker’s son, Khurram bin Sadiq, as a protocol officer, and a resident of his constituency, Rizwan Azad, as an assistant director information in BPS-17, in 2011, for being “glaring examples of favouritism.”

About two weeks ago, the speaker “transferred” his graduate son, as an assistant secretary, after amending the rules that stipulated at least a postgraduate degree for the position.

To fill the vacant post of the protocol officer, he made a fresh appointment of someone who was said to be his nephew.

On being pointed out by the petitioner, who was allegedly denied attested copies of the orders by the LA secretariat, the court issued a notice to the speaker and others, for the violation of the status quo.

According to the AJK LA Recruitment Act, 1976, the speaker can create any new post up to BPS-16, without the approval of the finance committee, which he heads himself.

He can also create posts in BPS-17 and above, but for a period of six months. For the creation of BPS-17 and above posts on permanent basis, the finance committee’s approval is required.

At the moment, the strength of the LA secretariat staffers has touched the figure of 379. This, according to a finance department official, was too high for a 49-member house, which hardly meets for 25 days in a year.

Dawn tried to reach the speaker, but the calls on his cell phone went unanswered.