Top court seeks explanations for delays in appeals
CJP Ahmed directs provincial authorities to come up with proper preparation at next hearing
The Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP/File
ISLAMABAD:
The top court on Friday observed that no action has been taken against those who cause delays in hearing appeals against cases in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and cases in which the court has issued orders are dealt with slackness.
This was observed by a two-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed while hearing the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government's appeal against equalising salaries and allowances of staff working at Bajaur Public School with those of other government employees.
At the start of the hearing, CJP Ahmed asked K-P’s Additional Advocate General (AAG) Qasim Wudood why the appeal of the case was filed after a delay of 122 days.
To this, the additional advocate general simply replied by stating that the case was of public interest and if the verdict issued by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) remains intact, then employees of other departments will also file similar requests.
He continued that all these appointments were made by the erstwhile political agents of the Bajaur tribal district utilizing personal funds.
The chief justice, however, maintained that the apex court has a strict stance with regards to appeals filed after long delays. Those who file appeals with delays do not see any action, remarked CJP Ahmed, adding that the provincial government must come up with an explanation for the delay in this case.
On the other hand, Justice Ijazul Ahsan maintained that the government treasury has been exhausted in payment of salaries alone while in the case of the K-P government, even the development fund has been utilized to pay salaries.
At this, CJP Ahmed remarked that the budget of the K-P government is not even sufficient to pay salaries. AAG Wudood, however, argued that the high court was not the competent forum for the case.
The CJP remarked that a sword worth Rs10 billion is hanging over the provincial government but no assistance in the case is being provided. He directed the provincial authorities to come up with proper preparation at the next hearing.
The court adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2020.
The top court on Friday observed that no action has been taken against those who cause delays in hearing appeals against cases in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and cases in which the court has issued orders are dealt with slackness.
This was observed by a two-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed while hearing the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government's appeal against equalising salaries and allowances of staff working at Bajaur Public School with those of other government employees.
At the start of the hearing, CJP Ahmed asked K-P’s Additional Advocate General (AAG) Qasim Wudood why the appeal of the case was filed after a delay of 122 days.
To this, the additional advocate general simply replied by stating that the case was of public interest and if the verdict issued by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) remains intact, then employees of other departments will also file similar requests.
He continued that all these appointments were made by the erstwhile political agents of the Bajaur tribal district utilizing personal funds.
The chief justice, however, maintained that the apex court has a strict stance with regards to appeals filed after long delays. Those who file appeals with delays do not see any action, remarked CJP Ahmed, adding that the provincial government must come up with an explanation for the delay in this case.
On the other hand, Justice Ijazul Ahsan maintained that the government treasury has been exhausted in payment of salaries alone while in the case of the K-P government, even the development fund has been utilized to pay salaries.
At this, CJP Ahmed remarked that the budget of the K-P government is not even sufficient to pay salaries. AAG Wudood, however, argued that the high court was not the competent forum for the case.
The CJP remarked that a sword worth Rs10 billion is hanging over the provincial government but no assistance in the case is being provided. He directed the provincial authorities to come up with proper preparation at the next hearing.
The court adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2020.