The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stopped the Establishment Division — the federal wing that manages civil service postings — from issuing a notification to send employees serving on deputation back to their parent departments.
Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas passed the directions while hearing a petition filed by Khalid Mahmood and others. Deputation means a worker is posted away from their original department to serve in another for a set period. Repatriation would mean sending those workers back to the parent office.
What the court ordered
The court restrained the Establishment Division from issuing the repatriation notification. It also directed the federal government to submit a report and para-wise comments within two weeks.
The written order further told the petitioners to keep performing their duties in their current positions while the matter is before the court.
Why the employees went to court
According to their counsel, the employees have been serving in the departments concerned for more than 15 years. The petition challenges the proposed move to repatriate them.
Raja Aleem Khan Abbasi, Zain Shah and Muneeb Tariq appeared for the petitioners. Counsel argued that the proposed repatriation notification was discriminatory, unjustified and an abuse of authority. They contended that long service of over 15 years had given the employees a legal right to permanent status in those posts.
What happens next
The federal government now has two weeks to place its report and detailed comments before the court. Until then, the stay bars a formal repatriation notification, and the petitioners remain in their present roles under the court’s direction. Further proceedings will depend on the government’s reply and how the IHC assesses the legal claims.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Islamabad High Court ne federal employees ki deputation se wapas bhejne wali notification rok di hai. Yeh log doosre departments mein kaam kar rahe the, aur unhein parent office wapas bheja jaana tha. Ab woh abhi apni maujooda jobs par kaam jaari rakh sakte hain. Sarkar ko do hafton mein court ko jawab dena hoga.
