Supreme Court Justice Criticizes Pakistani Bureaucratic Job Reservations

Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa condemned the practice of reserving government job quotas for children of Pakistani bureaucrats, underscoring the necessity for a merit-based employment system. The ruling demanded the withdrawal of unconstitutional Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa criticized the practice of providing reservation quotas for children of Pakistani bureaucrats, emphasizing the urgent need for a transparent and merit-based hiring system. Isa's remarks came during a hearing of an appeal related to public servants in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

While leading a four-member bench, Isa questioned how Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) could be issued by a mere section officer, condemning the practice as unconstitutional. 'Can a section officer run the country? Neither the Constitution nor laws can be created through an SRO issued by a section officer,' Isa asserted.

Isa traced the origins of this practice to Ziaul Haq's regime and highlighted it as a violation of the constitutional principle of non-discrimination. He urged that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government withdraw all notifications that contravene merit-based hiring practices. The provincial government must revoke any such SROs that violate constitutional provisions on equality and non-discrimination, the ruling declared.

(With inputs from agencies.)