ISLAMABAD BY EHSAN BUKHARI
The Islamabad High Court conducted a hearing in the case filed by NAPHDA terminated employees challenging their termination from the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) under the government’s right-sizing policy. The petitioners appeared in court with their legal counsel, Advocate Muhammad Ramzan Khan, while NAPHDA was represented by Advocate Ali Nawaz Kharl.
During the proceedings, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir extended the existing stay order, which had restrained NAPHDA from implementing the termination orders against its employees. This order will now remain in effect until the next hearing, which is scheduled for September 3, 2025.
The court took note of NAPHDA’s claim that the termination orders were issued in line with government policy, due to the authority’s lack of income since its establishment. However, the judge questioned why the Federation of Pakistan had not been made a party to the case if the terminations were based on federal policy. Consequently, the court directed the petitioners to include the federal government as a respondent in the case.
The court expressed displeasure after discovering that NAPHDA had not submitted a written response, despite its lawyer’s assertion that one had already been filed. Justice Tahir reprimanded the counsel and instructed that the written reply be submitted immediately.
Furthermore, the Additional Attorney General was directed to ensure that the federal government files a detailed, paragraph-wise response before the next hearing. The judge stressed that the termination of employees must follow due legal process. He stated that closing down a government entity requires a proper procedure, and dismissals based solely on a notification are not in accordance with policy.
Justice Arbab M. Tahir also remarked that employees working on contract or section-based posts have legal rights that must be upheld and cannot be disregarded. Concluding the hearing, the court adjourned proceedings until September 3, 2025, instructing all relevant parties to submit their complete responses before the said date.
