LAHORE, Nov 12 The Lahore High Court (LHC) complaint cell has sought within 10 days a report from the Wapda chairman about alleged irregularities in the on-going recruitment process in power distribution companies in the country.

The cell sought the report on some complaints stating that power companies were currently engaged in a process of recruiting people from grade 1 to 16 on political recommendations.

To facilitate the process, the complainants said the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) had waived the written test “on account of the bad law and order situation”.

Since short-listed candidates were interviewed for final selection, the complainants asserted that interview alone could not determine the eligibility of a candidate.

They alleged that the condition of written test had been waived to accommodate favourites and prayed to the court to direct Pepco and its distribution companies to make appointments through a transparent method.

Power distribution companies, it may be added, had advertised the vacancies from grade 1 to 16 a year ago. The advertisement had clearly mentioned that the selection would be made after written test and interview. Last month Pepco asked the power companies to ignore the written test and interview 'short-listed' candidates.

The distribution companies neither advertised the change in selection process nor made public the selection criteria of short-listed candidates.

Nazims' plea The Lahore High Court chief justice has constituted a division bench for the hearing of a petition against the introduction of 'commissionerate system' in the province.

The bench comprising Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman will begin hearing on Dec 8.

The petition was filed by 18 district nazims of the province through Advocate Fawad Chaudhry.

CAMPUSES A lawyer has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking closure of all educational institutions in the country till Dec 31 on account of security threats.

Advocate Ijaz Ahmad Awan submitted that in order to save the lives of innocent school-going children, the educational institutions should be closed immediately for early winter vacation till Dec 31.

ROBERTS FARMS Senior lawyer Tariq Aziz has filed a petition in the LHC seeking directions for Law Minister Rana Sanaullah to take legal action against Moonis Elahi's alleged deal on Roberts Farms in Rahim Yar Khan.

The lawyer said the minister had produced the relevant documents before the provincial assembly, but did not initiate legal proceedings against Mr Elahi.