ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended a Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) directive that had withdrawn medical facilities for its serving and retired employees.

Justice Mohammad Asif of the IHC heard a petition filed by 44 retired PTV officials — including former directors, controllers, engineers and staff officers — challenging Office Order No. HP/130/10534, issued on July 29, 2025. The contested directive curtailed long-standing in-house medical benefits and instructed pensioners to obtain treatment from government or armed forces hospitals.

The petitioners — including former director news Mirza Rashid Baig, former controller engineering Ahsan-ul-Haq, former director administration and personnel Zafarullah Khan, among others — contended that the decision was arbitrary, unconstitutional and issued without lawful authority. They argued that medical facilities formed part of their service terms, as guaranteed under appointment letters, service rules and SRO 639(I)/78, which has never been rescinded.

Facilities form part of service terms, cannot be withdrawn unilaterally, court told

Advocate Muhammad Waqas

Malik, counsel for the petitioners, argued that the withdrawal violated Articles 9 and 25 of the Constitution, which guarantee the right to life and equal treatment, in addition to breaching the doctrine of “legitimate expectation.”

The petition further stated that PTV’s Board of Directors was not constituted in accordance with the Corporate Governance Rules, 2013, rendering its policy decisions invalid. The retirees argued that while PTV had cited budgetary constraints to justify withdrawing medical benefits, it had at the same time advertised 400 new posts and engaged contractual staff on million-rupee packages.

The petitioners sought the restoration of all medical facilities, a permanent injunction against similar withdrawals in future, and costs against the respondents for repeatedly infringing their fundamental rights.

After hearing the arguments, the IHC issued a stay order, suspending PTV’s notification until the final adjudication of the case.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025