The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that employees of Rescue 1122 are not civil servants and do not fall under the definition of public service employees. The court declared the Punjab Service Tribunal’s order invalid while accepting the government’s appeal.
The verdict, authored by Justice Ayesha Malik, clarified that the tribunal has no jurisdiction over service matters of Rescue 1122 personnel. The court emphasized that merely being part of a government department does not automatically categorize employees as civil servants.
The decision noted that Rescue 1122 employees are regulated under a separate legal framework established in 2007. Even after amendments in 2021, the Punjab Emergency Service continues to operate as an independent legal entity providing emergency and disaster response services across 37 districts and tehsils of Punjab.
Under the Rescue 1122 Act 2006, the organization delivers public protection and rescue services during emergencies and disasters. The Supreme Court highlighted that the Service Tribunal cannot hear cases related to Rescue 1122 employees.
The ruling arose from a case involving a driver in the Punjab Emergency Service who faced departmental action. The Service Tribunal had annulled the regular inquiry and ordered a fresh investigation. The Supreme Court’s decision clarified that employees of emergency services are governed by the distinct Rescue 1122 legal framework rather than the civil service rules, reaffirming their independent statutory status.