The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) decision to cancel the ongoing recruitment process for several positions, including Building Inspector (BPS-13) and Assistant Director Environment (BPS-17).
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended, until the next hearing, its earlier order directing the cancellation of the recruitment process for several posts in the Capital Development Authority (CDA), including Building Inspector and Assistant Director. The court also restrained the CDA from re-advertising the posts or filling them through promotions or transfers until further orders.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued a two-page written order in the case and summoned responses from the CDA Chairman and other parties. The court has sought replies from the respondents by September 8, when the matter will be taken up for further hearing. The development comes in connection with a dispute over the recruitment process for several CDA positions. The court’s interim directions prevent the authority from taking any further steps to fill or re-advertise the posts until the case is heard again.
According to the petition, the affected candidates initially approached the Federal Ombudsman, seeking relief against the delay and uncertainty surrounding the recruitment process. The ombudsman subsequently directed the CDA to complete the recruitment process and issue the merit list in accordance with the relevant rules and prescribed procedure.
The petitioners, however, claimed that the CDA failed to comply with the ombudsman’s directions. Instead, the authority issued two office orders on June 17, 2026, announcing the cancellation of the recruitment process for the posts in question.
During the proceedings, the petitioners’ counsel, Riasat Ali Azad, argued that the CDA’s decision had no lawful basis and was taken with mala fide intent. He contended that candidates who had already appeared in the recruitment examination and successfully qualified should not be deprived of their opportunity due to the authority’s decision to cancel the process. After hearing the arguments, Islamabad High Court Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro suspended the operation of the impugned CDA office orders until the next hearing.
The court further restrained the CDA from re-advertising the posts involved in the case. It also barred the authority from filling the vacancies through promotion or transfer while the interim order remains in effect. The IHC issued notices to the CDA chairman and other respondents through Registered Post and TCS, directing them to submit their responses by September 8, 2026.