IHC to Hear Challenge to ANF Recruitment Process on August 22

ISLAMABAD
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear a petition challenging the implementation of new recruitments in the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on August 22, while the court’s earlier order suspending implementation of the recruitment advertisement will remain effective until the final decision in the main case.
Justice Muhammad Azam Khan had earlier removed the Registrar Office’s objections to the miscellaneous application and ordered that, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the request to suspend implementation of the recruitment advertisement be allowed.
The court disposed of the miscellaneous application after granting interim relief and fixed the main petition 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 Justice, and the Director General of ANF have been made respondents.
The petitioner submitted that he has been serving in the ANF on the same rank for the past ten years without receiving a promotion. He stated that despite being ranked 232nd in the seniority list of 665 constables, his departmental promotion had been overlooked.
The petition argues that issuing a fresh recruitment advertisement without convening a meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) is unlawful. It further maintains that the ANF Service Rules require eligible serving employees to be considered for promotion before filling posts through direct recruitment.
The petitioner has requested the court to restrain the induction of officers from other departments on deputation, restore the service structure for civilian employees, declare the impugned recruitment advertisement illegal and void, and direct the authorities to immediately constitute the Departmental Promotion Committee to fill all vacant posts through departmental promotions.