ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Secretary Establishment to look into promotions and postings in the Pakistan Administration Service group during the previous regime.

In case of non-compliance, the court will issue an appropriate order in the case, it warned.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, resumed hearing of a petition filed by Oriya Maqbool Jan regarding allegedly illegal promotions of officers in grade 20, 21 and 22.

To a bench's query, Secretary Establishment Shahid Rasheed apprised the bench that three summaries were sent to the former prime minister for approval. First one was sent on November 20, 2012 for promotion of 68 officers, out of whom 20 were promoted to grade 20.

The second summary for promotion of 37 officers was sent on January 9, 2013 while the third one was for 56 officers.

Justice Ejaz expressing his displeasure, questioned without cadre posts, how these promotions could have taken place.

The chief justice remarked that the promotions could be made in ex-cadre posts and not in the cadre ones. It seems that the promotions were made by the government just to oblige its own people, he added.

The case was adjourned till July 9.