ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday restored Muhammad Anees Sadozai as Director General (DG) Higher Education Commission (HEC) who was terminated by the administration on March 7.
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan suspended the termination orders of Sadozai and directed Executive Director (ED) HEC, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, to implement the court orders. DG Sadozi was a contract employee with the HEC since 2007 and his contract was terminated by the HEC after which he had filed a petition challenging his removal.
His counsel Umair Baloch contended before the court that his client and another DG Zia Batool had been working with the HEC since 2007 on contract basis. He argued that in January 2012, both Sadozai and Batool had filed a petition with the IHC seeking regularisation of their services. The same court on March 7, 2012 had accepted the petition and directed the HEC administration to forward the case of the two DGs to the cabinet sub-committee for regularisation of their services.
After the petitions were accepted, the HEC administration challenged it through an intra court appeal that was also dismissed. The counsel further told the court that the HEC did not implement the court orders and then, the petitioners filed a contempt of court application.
During pendency of the contempt matter, a legal adviser to the HEC had informed the court that the HEC had no objection on their regularization and would regularise the services of both the HEC officers.
Even after submitting this statement before the court, HEC administration did not regularise their services.
Then the petitioner filed another contempt of court application and the court directed the HEC administration to maintain status quo. However, the administration on March 07, 2014 terminated the contract for the appointment of Sadozai.
Therefore, Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan restored him through an interim order and adjourned the matter with date in office.