LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to appoint women selected on open merit as “corporals”.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi passed the order on identical petitions moved by over 200 women including Urooj Hayat and others who were denied appointment despite being selected.

Representing the petitioners, Advocate Shafqat Mahmood Chohan told the court that the CTD had advertised 1,500 posts of corporals in 2013. He said no special quota was allocated for women as per the advertisement and all the petitioners applied for the posts on open merit were selected. However, the lawyer said, the department later announced five per cent quota for women and appointed 75 successful female candidates.

A provincial law officer argued that 5pc quota for women was duly implemented in the appointments of the corporals.

The petitioners’ counsel said the department allotted the quota for women at belated stage with mala fide intention and ignored the petitioners selected on open merit. He said the department acted in sheer discriminatory manner and deprived the successful candidates of their right.

The counsel prayed to the court to order the CTD to appoint the petitioners being successful candidates. The judge allowed the petitions and directed the department to issue appointment notifications of the petitioners.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2017