PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday passed an amendment bill to further curtail the governor’s administrative powers in matters relating to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission (KPPSC).
The amendment to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1978, was introduced in the assembly in light of Article 242(1B), Article 105 of the Constitution and the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
The bill was approved by the House. Under the amended law, the governor will appoint the chairman of the KP Public Service Commission on the advice of the chief minister. In addition, the governor will be bound to act on the advice of the chief minister or the provincial cabinet in the commission’s administrative affairs.
For this purpose, amendments were approved to Sections 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1978. According to the text of the bill, the term “government” will replace “governor” in the relevant provisions wherever applicable. However, the governor’s constitutional role in appointing the chairman of the Public Service Commission, as provided under the Constitution, will remain intact.
The bill stated that the amendments were aimed at aligning the legal and administrative framework of the Public Service Commission with constitutional requirements, removing ambiguity regarding administrative powers, and promoting transparency, merit and good governance within the institution.
