On July 30, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) upheld an interim order preventing the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from taking disciplinary action against 42 of its employees.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard the case, during which, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Rashid Hafeez argued for vacating the interim relief, claiming the employees were not currently in service or performing official duties. However, the court directed the AAG to consult with the newly appointed interior secretary and stated that a decision would be made after the court vacations.

The employees’ legal representative shared that salaries had only been released for two months and further payments were still being withheld. Justice Khan noted that the court had already given appropriate directions and that the main petition would be decided following the vacation period.

Furthermore, it was argued by the counsel for the petitioners that the authorities were presenting inconsistent positions across various legal forums, including the Sindh High Court’s constitutional bench, the National Assembly, and the IHC. They highlighted that the officer who applied for the vacation of the stay order was serving on deputation and lacked the competence to file such an application.

The AAG disclosed that cases involving Grade-17 and Grade-18 employees would eventually be handled by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) as the service rules pertinent to these cases were still being finalised and awaited approval.