Cause and effect: PHC issues notices over holding of salary

Haripur DC withheld salary of AAC when latter started enquiry against him

PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Tuesday served a notice to the chief secretary and establishment department secretary for withholding the salary of the Haripur additional assistant commissioner. The court sought their replies by the next hearing.

The bench, headed by Justice Qaiser Rasheed, was hearing a writ petition filed by Haripur Additional Assistant Commissioner Qazi Attaur Rahman through his counsel Qazi Muhammad Azhar.

Azhar told the bench that the petitioner was appointed as an enquiry officer to investigate a case against the deputy commissioner of Haripur.

He added that during the course of enquiry, the DC was found guilty. This angered the DC and in turn, the petitioner was not only suspended, but also transferred to Peshawar, Azhar added.

He maintained the enquiry was being conducted on the chief minister’s order and as per rules and regulations; such action could only be initiated after solid evidence against an officer.



The enquiry did kick off as there was sufficient evidence available, but the DC stopped the salary of the petitioner, he said. The counsel added that the DC was not authorised to order such a move.

Azhar requested the bench to suspend the DC’s order and direct the relevant officials to release the petitioner’s salary. After hearing the arguments, the bench asked the respondents to file their comments.

On another petition, the bench sought a reply from National Database and Registration Authority for blocking the computerised national identity cards (CNIC) of a family.

While hearing a writ petition filed by Ghaffar Khan through Advocate Muzammil Khan, the bench was told the petitioner, along with his family members, were permanent residents of Gulo Dherai area of Swabi district since 1973. He said the political agent of Bajaur Agency also attested them as residents who relocated to Swabi district.

Muzammil said Ghaffar was issued a CNIC, weapon licences and other documents that proved him to be a citizen and resident of Swabi.

However, the petitioner’s counsel said NADRA officials have blocked the CNICs of all family members. He requested the bench to order the database to release  their CNICs. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2016.