Hearing put off till petitioners' lawyer returns to Karachi. PHOTO: EXPRESS
A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, put off the hearing due to absence of the lawyer for the non-profit organisations, who was busy in Islamabad.
The groups have sought contempt of court proceedings against the provincial authorities for surrendering Khawaja's services to the Centre and assigning the additional charge of the IG's post to AIG Abdul Majeed Dasti.
The Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government's three attempts to remove Khawaja from the post of the provincial police chief since December last year have failed.
SHC allows Khawaja to continue as IG till April 11
The petitioners, including the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education Research, the Urban Resource Centre and others, had moved two applications seeking contempt of court proceedings against the provincial authorities for removing Khawaja from the IG's post in alleged violation of the earlier stay order and suspension of the government's notification that gave additional charge of the IG's post to AIG Dasti.
Hearing the petition against the provincial government for sending Khawaja on 'forced leave', the court had on December 16 last year ordered that the matter of his transfer be dealt with strictly in accordance with the Supreme Court's judgment, wherein it was held that public servants must complete their three-year tenure on the subject post.
On April 3, the court had suspended operation of the provincial government's two notifications regarding Khawaja's removal and Dasti's new assignment, observing whether the decision was taken by the provincial cabinet.
SHC to hear civil society’s arguments in favour of AD Khawaja
As the government tried to provide legal cover to its decision by obtaining the provincial cabinet's approval, the court on different occasions has continued its restraining order against the IG's removal.
Advocate-General Barrister Zamir Ghumro has already filed documents relating to the cabinet's decision to transfer IG Khawaja.
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