ISLAMABAD: Majority benches of the Federal Service Tribunal (FST) are not functional owing to absence of the chairman and members from Islamabad headquarters.
FST Chairman Syed Zahid Hussain and members, including Muhammad Arshad Bhatti, Dr Nazir Saeed and Ishtiaq Ahmed, are currently performing duties in Lahore with other benches leaving at least three benches dysfunctional at Islamabad headquarters.
Only two members of FST, Syed Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Javed Iqbal Kasi were maintaining hearings at the tribunal office. In the given situation, majority cases are being adjourned to next dates or being dated in office.
According to FST officials, tribunal’s Chairman Syed Zahid Hussain would return to the capital city in couple of days where he would resume hearing cases. They said the chairman was currently performing duty at Lahore region’s office.
They added that members including Muhammad Arshad Bhatti, Dr Nazir Saeed and Ishtiaq Ahmed-who currently not in Islamabad-would join office soon in order to assume duties.
Muhammad Arshad Bhatti and Dr Nazir Saeed were likely to reach the capital city within this week while Ishtiaq Ahmed may come to tribunal headquarters by coming Monday, they added. Members were performing duties at Lahore under special directives of chairman, they said.
