ISLAMABAD: In clear disregard for judicial authority, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has proceeded with the recruitment process for the position of director general, despite a restraining order issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) barring any such action.

The IHC had on May 12 restrained the CDA from inducting directors general in BS-20. IHC division bench comprising Justice Mohammad Azam Khan and Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas issued the stay order while hearing a contempt of court petition filed by a BS-19 officer of the CDA, Iftikhar Haideri.

The court order stopped the CDA from taking any coercive action against the interest of the petitioner and also prevented the authority from acting upon the advertisement for the recruitment of DGs.

Mr Haideri had approached the IHC after the civic agency did not promote him despite the fact that the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) had recommended him for promotion to BS-20. The court had earlier summoned the minutes of the DPC meeting.

On May 12, IHC had restrained the civic body from inducting directors general in BS-20

While the matter was pending before the IHC, the CDA on April 17 advertised three positions of directors general. According to the advertisement, the CDA required candidates having 16 years of education and 25 years of experience in the government sector for the posts of DGs. The advertisement further stated that retired commissioned officers in BS-20 would be preferred.

However, under the CDA Employees Regulations 1992, appointments to the post of DG are to be made entirely through promotion.

Subsequently, Mr Haideri filed a contempt of court petition through his counsel Fiaz Ahmed Anjum Jandran. The court issued notices to CDA Chairman Lt (retired) Sohail Ashraf, Member Administration Esfandyar Baloch and director general and director of the human resource department. The court also sought their reply over non-implementation of the court orders and making fresh induction.

However, documents available with Dawn reveal that despite the court’s clear restraining order, the CDA’s Human Resource Development Directorate had already issued interview letters to shortlisted candidates for the DG post.

One such letter, addressed to Brig Dr Mahboob Ahmad Butt, scheduled an interview for June 3 at the CDA Committee Room in Sector G-7/4.

When contacted, officials familiar with the matter confirmed that the interview process went ahead as scheduled on Wednesday, raising serious questions about the CDA’s adherence to judicial directives.

According to them, while the stay order was in-field, CDA shortlisted 104 candidates for three positions of DGs and scheduled their interviews for June 3 and June 4.

When contacted, a CDA spokesperson said he had forwarded the query to the relevant department. A member of the CDA legal team however said the court direction restrained civic agency from acting upon the advertisement of April 17.

According to him, CDA is completing the process initiated before the May 12 restraining order. However, the civic agency would not issue the final appointment letter in compliance with the court directions, he said.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2026