SC suspends LHC decision about job quota for backward areas

ISLAMABAD,   The Supreme Court on Thursday suspended the Lahore High Court decision regarding 20% job quota for the residents of backward areas provided by the Punjab government

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan was hearing the case.

Lawyer Mudassar Abbasi argued that the job quota given by the Punjab government did not violate any single constitutional article. He said that the quota was awarded under sections 20, 23 of the Civil Servant Act. Moreover, the job contenders also passed the exams. They were issued appointment letters but they were not allowed to join the service, the lawyer told the court.

Justice Ahson said that the Supreme Court had already declared that the Punjab government quota for the residents of backward areas was not against the law in two other judgments.

With this, the judge said that for now the apex court was suspending the Lahore High Court decision against this quota and would hear the case in detail later.

In 2018, the Punjab government awarded job quota to the dwellers of Bhakkar, Multan, Mianwali and other less developed areas of the province. According to this, 20% job quota would be reserved in the provincial departments for the residents of backward areas for four decades.

The affectees had challenged the Punjab government decision in the LHC which declared the provincial government quota unconstitutional.