On July 13, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) voiced its displeasure with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for not submitting a required response concerning the petitions of 43 contract employees seeking regularization of their services.
Presiding over the case, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan addressed the legal petitions initiated by Aamir Sohail Anjum and 42 other NCCIA employees, all holding positions at Grade 16 or higher. The employees, accompanied by their legal counsel, were present during the proceedings, but the NCCIA did not file its response, ignoring prior court instructions.
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Justice Azam Khan issued a stern warning to the agency, stating that it must provide its reply by the next scheduled hearing. He emphasised the urgency of resolving the matter and indicated that failure to respond could lead the court to decide based on existing records.
“You must file your reply by the next hearing. The court also has to decide the matter,” remarked Justice Khan. He further noted that the absence of a response would prompt the court to proceed with a decision on the case.
Additionally, the court extended a previous interim order that prevented the NCCIA from taking any disciplinary action against the petitioners. The proceedings have been adjourned until July 24.
