Contempt plea: LHC wants answers in proceedings against CM

Shahbaz failed to appoint a new director general for EPA

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court ordered the advocate general to reply in a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The CM failed to appoint the director general of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) despite court orders.

The petitioner, Advocate Sheraz Zaka, said the court, on October 26, set aside the appointment of Dr Javed Iqbal as the director general of EPA. He added the court ordered the government to appoint a new officer on merit.

However, Zaka pointed out that Iqbal had not relinquished charge and was still exercising authority as the director general of EPA, in violation of the court order. Moreover, the chief minister committed contempt of court by not appointing a new director general,
he argued.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah decided to seek help from the advocate general of Punjab before issuing notices on the petition.

He ordered the advocate general to get answers from the agency over the appointment of a new director general by December 19.

On October 26, after Iqbal’s appointment was declared illegal, the high court directed EPA Implementation and Monitoring Laboratories Director Tauqeer Ahmed to take charge as acting director general.

Issues over appointment

The appointment of Iqbal was questioned over its eligibility. According to the petitioner, Iqbal was appointed in violation of service rules. Zaka told the court it was mandatory for the director general to be a civil servant or belong to the Provincial Management Services. He added Iqbal did not fall under any of the required criteria.

He was previously a technical adviser at the housing department.

Zaka added an enquiry was also pending against Iqbal with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over the purchase of equipment for the laboratory of EPA Multan. Therefore, Zaka had requested that Iqbal be stopped from exercising his powers.

However, his appointment was defended by an assistant advocate general who said the former was a competent officer and had a PhD degree. He requested the court to adjourn the matter for three weeks as EPA was being revamped and a summary had already been forwarded to the relevant authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2016.