Overview
- A three‑judge FCC bench delivered the ruling on Thursday, June 11, 2026, declaring appointments made during the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker period illegal and dismissing appeals by the terminated employees.
- The court upheld the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Employees (Removal from Service) Act, 2025, which voided appointments made between January 22, 2023 and February 29, 2024 and led to removal letters and office orders in early 2025.
- Justices said caretaker governments are limited to routine day‑to‑day administration and cannot make permanent appointments, binding policy choices, or financial commitments that outlive their tenure.
- The judgment requires that any non‑routine administrative or developmental measure by a caretaker setup be justified by compelling public interest and obtain prior approval from the Election Commission of Pakistan.
- The ruling strengthens judicial review of interim acts, leaves the affected Grade‑IV/Class‑IV hires without reinstatement, and signals tighter checks on future caretaker decisions and public‑sector job stability after elections.