KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to federal and provincial authorities on a petition impugning the appointment of chairman Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) for allegedly holding dual posts.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Muhammad Faisal Kamal Alam also directed the federal and provincial law officers to come prepared along with comments on Sept 10.

A citizen approached the SHC and asserted that the appointment of chairman BSEK, Ghulam Hussain Sohoo, was made in violation of relevant rules as he was serving in the ministry of federal education and professional training, and the federal government had not issued his relieving order.

The counsel for the petitioner argued that Mr Sohoo, a civil servant serving at the ministry in BPS-19, was appointed chairman of BSEK on April 3 on a three-year contractual basis while he was also holding a post at the ministry. Surprisingly, he was promoted as deputy director general (operations/policy) in the ministry of federal education and professional training on May 19.

The counsel also asserted that no relieving order was issued by the federal government and he was simultaneously drawing salaries from both posts. He added that joining the subject post without a relieving order was a violation of various provisions of the Government Servants Conduct Rules and the Government of Pakistan Establishment Code.

After a preliminary hearing, the bench issued notices to the respondents and federal and provincial law officers with direction to file comments by the next hearing.

The bench in its order said, “Contention requires consideration as under what provision the respondent No.5 is holding two posts in federal and provincial governments.

Looking at the nature of controversy both law officers of Federation and Province should come prepared along with parawise comments at next hearing,” it added.

Citing the ministry of federal education and professional training, cabinet division, federal directorate of education, provincial universities & boards department, Mr Sohoo and others as respondents, petitioner Shahid Safdar asserted that the appointment in question was made without issuance of a relieving order or approval of retirement from his parent department, demonstrating violation of mandatory service rules and procedures.

He further contended that, as per record, the respondent chairman had simultaneously drawn two salaries from both posts in question for the months of April and May 2025, and the same amounted to misuse of public funds, while dual employment was contrary to settled principles of public service.

The petitioner maintained that the respondent chairman was granted a promotion by the ministry on May 19 with retrospective effect from May 13, despite the fact that he had already assumed the charge of chairman BSEK.

He also argued that it was a matter of record that Mr Sohoo had merely submitted an application to the ministry concerned for retirement with effect from April 3 and he could not assume a new appointment until such application was duly approved.

The petitioner asked the SHC to overturn such appointment and also sought suspension of the appointment’s notification through an interim order till final disposal of the petition.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2025