PHC orders immediate payment of police increments

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the immediate payment of increment amounts to police personnel who were moved to higher pay scales but were not given the corresponding increase in salary.

The order was issued during a hearing presided over by Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah. Lawyers representing the petitioners and the additional advocate general appeared before the court.

During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioners told the court that police personnel up to grade 11 across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been upgraded, but their salaries had not been revised to include the applicable increments.

Chief Justice Shah questioned why police personnel were being denied what he described as their lawful entitlements despite serving in difficult conditions.

"Police officers are being martyred in the ongoing war against terrorism, including in Bannu," the chief justice remarked during the hearing.

"These individuals are performing their duties on the front lines, facing attacks on a daily basis. Why are they being denied their rights? Even for their legitimate claims, they are forced to seek justice through the courts," he added.

The court observed that police officials who are sacrificing their lives in the fight against terrorism should not have to move from one court to another to secure their due rights.

Chief Justice Shah also said the police were putting their lives at risk in the service of the country and should not be deprived of benefits linked to their upgraded scales. "Police personnel are risking their lives to protect the nation and the country. If any officer is indulging in corruption or abuse of authority, bring it to our notice."

At the conclusion of the hearing, the court directed the Advocate General’s office to submit a report on the provision of increments to the petitioners.

Issue raised before the court

The matter before the PHC concerned police employees who, according to the petitioners’ counsel, had already been upgraded to different pay scales but had not received the salary increments that should accompany those upgrades. The petition specifically related to personnel up to grade 11 from across the province.

In its observations, the court linked the issue to the broader role of the police force in maintaining security in the province, particularly at a time when officers continue to face militant violence. The chief justice referred specifically to Bannu while highlighting the dangers faced by police personnel in the line of duty.

The PHC’s order requires the relevant authorities, through the Advocate General’s office, to place a report before the court regarding implementation of increments for the petitioners.