The Islamabad High Court on Monday issued notices to the federal government and relevant authorities on a petition challenging salary cuts imposed under the prime minister’s austerity drive.
The case was heard by Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro on a petition filed by the state-owned National Grid Company. The court sought responses from the Secretary Cabinet Division, the Federation, and the Ministry of Law and Justice.
During the hearing, Barrister Umar Ijaz Gilani, representing the petitioner, argued that the Cabinet Division had issued a notification on March 14 mandating salary deductions as part of the austerity measures.
He contended that the move was linked to an austerity drive initiated in the context of tensions arising from the US-Iran conflict. However, he argued that while the prime minister’s directives could apply to government departments, they could not be extended to government-owned companies.
The counsel maintained that the petitioner, being a company registered under the Companies Act, operates independently and was created to reduce direct government interference in its day-to-day affairs.
