ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday stopped the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from making new appointments on various positions during the hearing of a petition filed by officials of the Cyber Crime Cell of the investigation agency.

IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani was hearing the petition filed by 28 forensic experts, investigators, law officers, network administrators and help desk officers of the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes (NR3C) of the FIA.

In December last year, FIA had advertised over 200 contractual positions for deputy director investigation, assistant directors investigation, forensic, accounts, stress counsellor, hardware, software and network, technical assistant, assistant legal advisor, cyber crimes analyst, inspectors, sub inspector, assistant sub inspector, head constable, constable, office superintendent, upper division clerk, lower division clerk and others.

The advertisement was published by the private firm Universal Testing Service and sought applications against the above mentioned positions by Dec 18.

The petitioners requested the court to issue direction to the FIA not to make appointments on contract basis in the FIA.

Their counsel adopted before the court that vacancies on contract basis have been advertised in daily newspapers and if same are made, the right of the petitioners will be jeopardized as they were also expecting promotions to senior positions.

An FIA official told the court that “the authorities have received applications from the candidates in response to the advertisement published by NR3C which are under process of scrutiny”.

The court ordered the FIA director general to submit his written reply to the petition as to whether the appointment being made on contract basis are legal, valid or otherwise.

Justice Kayani also issued a stay order which says: “FIA authorities are hereby restrained from conducting test on the advertised jobs till next date of hearing.”

Assistant Attorney General Raja Mohammad Aftab contended before the court that he needed some time for filing of para-wise comments. The court allowed his request and directed him to submit a detailed reply by Feb 4. Further hearing on the petition has been adjourned till said date.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2019