ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has made the ongoing process of direct recruitment of inspectors in the Islamabad police subject to its final decision on a petition challenging the legality of the recruitment.

Justice Ayyaz Shaukat issued the order while hearing a petition filed by Arshad Ali and 39 other sub-inspectors, who have challenged the Ministry of Interior’s notification dated April 29 and an advertisement issued by the Public Service Commission on August 11.

The court issued notices to the Interior Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Additional Inspector General, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Deputy Secretary (Interior) and the Public Service Commission, seeking their responses to the petition.

Barrister Adil Aziz Qazi appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

According to the court order, the petitioners’ counsel argued that direct recruitment to the rank of inspector was against Article 7(3) of the Police Order 2002.

He submitted that the Police Order 2002 was applicable to the Islamabad Capital Territory and that the Islamabad High Court had also acknowledged its applicability in a judgment delivered in 2019.

The petitioners maintained that proceeding with the recruitment process before the court determined the legality of the disputed measures could result in appointments being made in violation of the prescribed legal framework.

The court also directed that notices be issued to the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Advocate General for Islamabad.

While fixing October 28 for the next hearing, the court ordered that any steps taken in the recruitment process would remain subject to the final outcome of the petition.

The case raises questions about the interpretation and applicability of the Police Order 2002 in Islamabad, particularly whether the existing legal framework permits direct recruitment to the post of inspector.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2026