ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain granted on Wednesday one year extension to Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmed.

According to a press release issued by the Presidency, Mr Hussain approved the extension on the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

It may be mentioned that after the passage of the 18th Amendment, only the prime minister had the authority to appoint the PARC chairman and extend his service.

“Under 18th Amendment, the prime minister, and not the president, can give any further extension to Iftikhar Ahmed,” PARC spokesman Sardar Mustafa told Dawn.

Mr Ahmed’s two-year contract as PARC chief expired on Sept 11, but the extension has been made after a delay of over one month because of lengthy procedure of approval involving two offices of the president and the

prime minister.

The Supreme Court had ruled against extension in services of holders of public offices many times in the past.

In February 2011, former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had directed the then PPP government to terminate the services of contract employees and not to give any further extension.

The extension for Dr Ahmed was recommended by a government’s committee which deals with services of MP-I (contract-based top managerial posts).

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2014