The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has halted the implementation of the ongoing recruitment process in the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), staying appointments under the recently advertised vacancies.
Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued the order, directing that the recruitment advertisement will remain suspended until the court delivers a final verdict on the main petition. The court also overruled the Registrar Office’s objections to the miscellaneous application.
In its written order, the court clarified that the interim relief had been granted without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case. The miscellaneous application seeking suspension of the recruitment process was approved and disposed of, while the main petition has been scheduled for hearing on August 22.
The petition was filed by ANF constable Muhammad Shafiq Khan through his counsel Muhammad Ali Raza, challenging the recruitment advertisement. The Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Law, and the Director General of ANF have been named as respondents.
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The petitioner argued that despite serving in the ANF for the past 10 years, he has not been promoted. He stated that he ranks 232nd in the seniority list of 665 constables, yet his right to departmental promotion has been overlooked.
The petition contends that issuing a recruitment advertisement for direct appointments without first convening a Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) is unlawful. It further claims that the ANF service rules have been violated by prioritising direct recruitment over the promotion rights of existing employees.
The petitioner requested the court to stop the alleged unlawful induction of officers on deputation from other departments, restore the service structure for civilian employees, declare the current recruitment advertisement illegal, and direct the ANF to immediately constitute a Departmental Promotion Committee to fill vacant posts through internal promotions.
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