ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stayed the finalisation of appointments for Community Welfare Attachés (CWAs) and directed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) to produce the complete official record of the selection process, which has allegedly been marred by arbitrariness and blatant violations of established policy guidelines.

Justice Ayyaz Shaukat issued these directives while hearing a writ petition filed by Raza Hassan, a BS-19 officer of the Secretariat Group currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination. The petitioner challenged his alleged arbitrary exclusion from the interview stage for the post of CWA-2026, despite successfully qualifying in the written test conducted by IBA Karachi.

Complete record of selection process sought

According to the order sheet, the petitioner’s counsel, Shahid Meh­mood Khokhar, argued that his client secured the requisite qualifying score of 60 per cent in the written test.

However, he was allegedly excl­uded from the interview stage in violation of the “Amended Policy Gui­delines for Foreign Appoin­tm­e­nts and Postings in Pakistan Mis­sions Abroad”, dated October 21, 2020.

The counsel contended that the MOPHRD’s action was taken without notice, an opportunity of hearing, or any assigned reason, contrary to the principle of audi alteram partem (let the other side be heard). It was further submitted that the Interview Committee convened meetings from August 17 to 20, 2026, and that its recommendations could be finalised at any time, potentially rendering the petition infructuous.

The petitioner further argued that the impugned action was in direct violation of Articles 2A, 3, 4, 9, 10A and 25 of the Constitution, which, he contended, guarantee equality of opportunity and fair play.

After hearing the initial arguments, Justice Shaukat noted that the points raised required consideration. The court issued notices to the respondents — including the Sec­­­retary of MOPHRD, the Estab­lishment Division and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat — for Sept­ember 24, 2026, directing them to file para-wise comments before the next date of hearing.

More importantly, the court directed the respondents to place on record the complete official record of the selection process, including the list of candidates who qualified in the written test and those called for the interview.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026