| Citation(s) |
|---|
| 2026 SLG 2462 2026 SLD 2462 |
W.P. No. 4176-2022 W.P. No. 4175-2022 W.P. No. 1327-2024
Presented By: ARBAB MUHAMMAD TAHIR
- Petitioners by
Respondent APP by Federation by : : : Mr Ali Murad Baloch, Advocate. Ms Afshan Saeed, Advocate. Mr Usman Rasool Ghuman, Asstt. Attorney General. Mr Imran Hussain, Section Officer (Legal), Finance Division. Date(s) of Hearing : 14.05.2025 -
Shakeel Muhammad
VERSUS
Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation and another Arsalan Muddasar Memon Versus Federal Ministry of Finance through its Secretary and others Arsalan Muddasar Memon Versus Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation and another
Law:
Section:
Case Summary
Court & Judge
Arbab Muhammad Tahir, J. — Common judgment deciding 3 consolidated writ petitions
Petitions Consolidated
| Petition | Petitioner | Challenged |
|---|---|---|
| W.P. No. 4175/2022 | Arsalan Muddasar Memon | APPC Office Order dated 01.11.2022 |
| W.P. No. 1327/2024 | Arsalan Muddasar Memon | Finance Division Office Memorandum dated 18.04.2022 |
| W.P. No. 4176/2022 | Shakeel Ahmed | APPC Office Order dated 01.11.2022 |
Parties
| Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Petitioners | Arsalan Mudassar (Computer Operator) and Shakeel Muhammad (Junior Computer Technician) — regular employees of Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation (APPC) |
| Respondents | APPC; Finance Division; Federal Government |
Background Facts
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Project | PSDP-funded project: "Restructuring of News Operation by Replacing Outdated Equipment with Modern Cutting Edge Technology" |
| Process | Petitioners obtained NOCs from APPC and applied for contractual project posts |
| New Positions | Arsalan Mudassar → Chief Engineer; Shakeel Muhammad → Editor |
| Lien Granted | APPC granted lien against permanent posts: Arsalan — for duration of project (06.12.2021); Shakeel — for one year (08.12.2021) |
| Impugned Letters (01.11.2022) | APPC directed petitioners to report for duty on permanent posts by resigning from project posts, failing which their service would be dismissed |
Core Legal Issue
Whether a lien granted by APPC to its employees against their permanent posts — while they served on PSDP-funded project posts — was lawful, and whether it created enforceable rights despite contravening Finance Division policy requiring resignation before project appointment?
The Governing Policy Instruments
Finance Division O.M. dated 18.04.2022 (Challenged)
"Standard Pay Package for the Project Staff Directly Recruited for Development Projects Funded from PSDP" — Clause (vi), Paragraph 2: