SC rules civil servants not bound even to follow PM’s illegal orders

2026-01-27 - 10:04

ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ruled that civil servants are not required to follow illegal orders, even if they come from the Prime Minister. The SC made these remarks during the hearing of a case concerning alleged illegal recruitments in OGDCL. During the proceedings, the court instructed lawyers representing a former minister’s review petition to prepare their arguments. The bench emphasized that the government appointments must follow formal procedures including public advertisements and cannot be issued solely through ministerial orders. A lawyer for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) stated that the principal staff officer of the concerned minister had acknowledged parliamentary pressure in relation to the recruitments. Justice Hashim Kakak said that most government departments have hired staff beyond sanctioned posts and suggested comparing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with international airlines for context. The NAB lawyer responded that over-recruitment at PIA contributed to the need for its privatization. Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim observed that the recruitments took place before the Accountability Commission law was in effect. He added that the federal minister involved has already served his sentence, and the completion of the punishment should be considered sufficient.