Govt grants second extension to Chairman NIRC

Aftab Ahmed

Islamabad: The PTI government has granted a second extension in the contract appointment of Chairman National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan for a further period of two years.

Mr. Justice (Retd) Mian Shakir Ullah Jan, former Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan, appointed as Chairman. The NIRC chairman was initially for a period of two years with effect from September 7, 2016.

His appointment period subsequently extended for a further period of two years with effect from September 7, 2018, in the light of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s letter and with the prior approval of the Federal Cabinet. His extended term of office shall expire on September 6, 2020.

Sources told Newztodays.com that the Supreme Court of Pakistan intimated through a letter on June 20, 2020, Chief Justice of Pakistan extended the tenure of Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, former Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan, for a further period of two years as Chairman, National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC).

The Overseas Pakistani & Human Resource Development Division sought the Federal Cabinet’s approval to grant the 2nd extension in Justice’s contract appointment (Retd.) Mian Shakirullah Jan, former Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan for a further period of two years w.e.f.07/09/2020 as Chairman, National Industrial Relations Commission (NTRC).

The Cabinet considered the summary titled 2nd Extension in Contract Appointment of Chairman, National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) submitted by the Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development Division and approved the proposal.

National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) established under Section 53 of the Industrial Relations Act (1RA), 2012. It deals with adjudication of industrial disputes, registration of trade unions, determination of collective bargaining agents, unfair labor practices, individual grievances of workers in trans-provincial establishments, and those located in Islamabad Capital Territory handle offenses prescribed in the said Act.

According to Section-53 (2) of the Industrial Relations Act, it shall consist of not less than ten (10) full-time Members, Including the Chairman. Moreover, the Chairman and Members (Qualifications) Rules, 2016 clearly provided that “no person shall be appointed as Chairman unless he is or has been the judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Chairman shall be appointed in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.”