IHC issues notice to ministry over PMDC employees’ plea
Petitioners argue MNHSRC not restoring their service despite court order
Islamabad High Court. PHOTO PHOTO: IHC WEBSITE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday sought reply from the health ministry on a contempt of court petition moved by former employees of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
This was directed by a single-bench of the IHC, comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah, as he heard the contempt plea filed by PMDC employees.
The petitioners argued that the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MNHSRC) was not restoring their services despite orders from the IHC.
Moreover, the employees contended they are not being allowed to enter PMDC offices as the ministry has sealed the building.
The petitioners urged the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the secretary of the ministry and other respondents for failing to implement the court’s orders.
Chief Justice Minallah subsequently issued a notice, seeking a reply from the respondents by February 19.
Earlier, a single-member bench of the IHC comprising Justice Mohsin Akhter Kayani, had on February 12 declared the constitution of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) Ordinance as null and void, and ordered the restoration of all terminated employees of PMDC.
However, when the PMDC employees went to rejoin their services they found that the health ministry had sealed the building
Protest
Meanwhile, a large number of employees of PMDC staged a protest outside the council’s headquarters on Friday.
Addressing the protesters, former PMDC employees claimed that the council and all its employees had been restored by the IHC, but the health ministry was not implementing the court’s orders.
They claimed the administration had sealed the office which was against the law. They said they would continue their protest till fulfilment of their all demands.
Missing citizen
IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Friday ordered the federal defence and interior secretaries, along with the Inspector General of Islamabad Police to present Salman Farooqi, who has been reported as having gone missing from the jurisdiction of the Lohi Bher police station, before the court by March 13, otherwise, action will be taken against these officers.
Justice Kayani remarked he will send defence and interior secretaries, Islamabad IG home if they fail to produce Farooqi.
During Friday’s hearing of a petition filed by Farooqi’s father, Prof Muhammad Sharif Chaudhry, the Interior Ministry submitted a report to the court.
On this, the court said that it has sought a report from the defence ministry.
The representative of the interior ministry clarified to the court that none of the departments subordinate to the ministry knew Farooqi’s whereabouts.
At this, the court said that collecting information is the job of security agencies and that the report submitted by the interior ministry said ‘no information’, which means Farooqi was innocent.
Justice Kayani asked why other security services, besides the Islamabad police, were not involved in investigating this case. A representative of the Islamabad police said that a joint investigation team (JIT) has to be formed to make officers of other institutions part of the investigation process.
The IHC justice reprimanded the officers for having no knowledge about the man who had gone missing from the federal capital five months ago.
“You are supposed to know, this is your job and you get paid for it,” he said, asking the representatives of the institutions whether robbers have taken him or someone else. He directed that he wants the man produced in the court.
This is a court, not a post office, he warned the officers, reminding them that he had slapped a fine of Rs2 million on the defence and interior ministries in missing person cases and that he could levy a fine in this case too.
Chaudhry claimed that his son had been whisked away but no one was telling him about his whereabouts. The distraught father added that he has lost his chance for a PhD scholarship.
Justice Kayani said he will not let those go who will not let his son go and directed secretaries of defence and interior ministries and the Islamabad IG to produce Farooqi in the court on the next hearing due on March 13.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2020.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday sought reply from the health ministry on a contempt of court petition moved by former employees of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
This was directed by a single-bench of the IHC, comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah, as he heard the contempt plea filed by PMDC employees.
The petitioners argued that the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MNHSRC) was not restoring their services despite orders from the IHC.
Moreover, the employees contended they are not being allowed to enter PMDC offices as the ministry has sealed the building.
The petitioners urged the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the secretary of the ministry and other respondents for failing to implement the court’s orders.
Chief Justice Minallah subsequently issued a notice, seeking a reply from the respondents by February 19.
Earlier, a single-member bench of the IHC comprising Justice Mohsin Akhter Kayani, had on February 12 declared the constitution of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) Ordinance as null and void, and ordered the restoration of all terminated employees of PMDC.
However, when the PMDC employees went to rejoin their services they found that the health ministry had sealed the building
Protest
Meanwhile, a large number of employees of PMDC staged a protest outside the council’s headquarters on Friday.
Addressing the protesters, former PMDC employees claimed that the council and all its employees had been restored by the IHC, but the health ministry was not implementing the court’s orders.
They claimed the administration had sealed the office which was against the law. They said they would continue their protest till fulfilment of their all demands.
Missing citizen
IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Friday ordered the federal defence and interior secretaries, along with the Inspector General of Islamabad Police to present Salman Farooqi, who has been reported as having gone missing from the jurisdiction of the Lohi Bher police station, before the court by March 13, otherwise, action will be taken against these officers.
Justice Kayani remarked he will send defence and interior secretaries, Islamabad IG home if they fail to produce Farooqi.
During Friday’s hearing of a petition filed by Farooqi’s father, Prof Muhammad Sharif Chaudhry, the Interior Ministry submitted a report to the court.
On this, the court said that it has sought a report from the defence ministry.
The representative of the interior ministry clarified to the court that none of the departments subordinate to the ministry knew Farooqi’s whereabouts.
At this, the court said that collecting information is the job of security agencies and that the report submitted by the interior ministry said ‘no information’, which means Farooqi was innocent.
Justice Kayani asked why other security services, besides the Islamabad police, were not involved in investigating this case. A representative of the Islamabad police said that a joint investigation team (JIT) has to be formed to make officers of other institutions part of the investigation process.
The IHC justice reprimanded the officers for having no knowledge about the man who had gone missing from the federal capital five months ago.
“You are supposed to know, this is your job and you get paid for it,” he said, asking the representatives of the institutions whether robbers have taken him or someone else. He directed that he wants the man produced in the court.
This is a court, not a post office, he warned the officers, reminding them that he had slapped a fine of Rs2 million on the defence and interior ministries in missing person cases and that he could levy a fine in this case too.
Chaudhry claimed that his son had been whisked away but no one was telling him about his whereabouts. The distraught father added that he has lost his chance for a PhD scholarship.
Justice Kayani said he will not let those go who will not let his son go and directed secretaries of defence and interior ministries and the Islamabad IG to produce Farooqi in the court on the next hearing due on March 13.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2020.