ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Justice Azim Khan Afridi of Islamabad High Court on Friday restrained the authorities of National Assembly from recruiting 37 section officers.

The restraining orders were issued on petitions of about 40 Superintendents working in the lower house.

The petitioners cited speaker National Assembly, secretaries National Assembly and Cabinet Division as respondents.

Advocate Mohammad Qamar Afzal, petitioners' counsel adopted before the court that the NA authoritiesadvertised 37 vacant posts of section officers in national press.

The said posts were traditionally promotional positions that could be filled through departmental promotion but after advertisement a process has been initiated to fill them directly. The direct appointments would deprive the existing staff of their right to promotion they had been waiting for a long period of time.

He requested the court to declare the process of recruitments illegal and direct the authorities to promote the existing staff in accordance with the rules and regulations.Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Abid Raja appeared on behalf of the federation and said that the authorities could hire fresh eligible candidates for the posts of section officers.

He said the new recruitment was being done in accordance with the prescribed rules and after proper advertisement of the vacant posts.

He requested the court to dismiss the petitions.

The court, however, adjourned the hearing for a week for detailed arguments and meanwhile directed the authorities not to take any step that could harm the interest of the petitioners.