ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday questioned the legality of the federal government’s “admin pool” system and asked the government to justify how the admin pool has been formed, how officers get posted to the admin pool, and for how long they can remain in the admin pool.
This was made during a hearing of a case submitted by Shah Bano against the Federation of Pakistan, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the Establishment Division.
Shah Bano, a top government official, objected to being included in the admin pool. She was mistakenly placed on the list by an FBR typist and missed eight months of pay as a result. The court acknowledged the error and subsequently posted her to a new position as Director General (DG) SI.
Shah Bano is a senior officer in Pakistan and was even more senior than three FBR chairmen. Yet, junior officers were promoted in front of her.
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, who presided over the case, displayed frustration when government attorneys, particularly Advocate Afnan Karim Kundi, could not give a clear explanation of the legal rationale of the admin pool. The court posed straightforward questions:
Which law enables the establishment of the admin pool?
What regulations determine the in and out postings of officers from it?
What is the period a police officer may remain in the admin pool?
Mr. Kundi’s unclear answers led the judge to say it was like “drawing blood from a stone.” Justice Khan warned that if clear answers are not given, top officials from the Establishment Division and the Prime Minister’s Office may have to appear in person.
The “admin pool” is a roster of bureaucrats with no active job postings. It’s accused of breeding nepotism and biased appointments, undermining merit and transparency in the government.
The court’s stern approach reflects a growing concentration on solving issues in Pakistan’s civil bureaucracy. Justice Khan stated that if the pool of admins had legal ground, then the government ought to have demonstrated it. As no evidence was presented, it questions how lawful the system is.
Attorneys and government officials present at the hearing were:
Malik Qamar Afzal and Muhammad Ishaq Khan for the petitioner
Yasir Arfat Abbasi, Additional Attorney General
Raja Saim ul Haq Satti, Legal Adviser, Establishment Division
Jameel Sheikh and Khadija Awan, Establishment Division
Hafiz Muhammad Taimoor Khalid, Prime Minister’s Office
The judge has fixed the next hearing as March 14, 2025, when one final chance is being extended to the government to file straight answers. Failure on their part will see them bringing in high-ups, turning the case into a much more substantial accountability issue.
Legal analysts claim this action might be a model for increasing openness in government appointments. Civil society organizations have responded positively to the court’s steps and requested sweeping reforms to ensure merit-based, fair appointments in Pakistan’s bureaucracy.
