Arrest warrant for finance secretary withdrawn

SHC issues show-cause notices to SSIC top officers

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) withdrew on Saturday the arrest warrant issued for the federal finance secretary in an Inland Revenue official's plea pertaining to his promotion being delayed for the past seven years.

In the petition, the grade-20 official, Misri Ludhani stated that he was appointed as a grade-17 officer in a subsidiary of the Federal Board of Revenue in 1982 and was promoted to grade 20 in 2010. The petitioner said his promotion to grade-21 had been pending since 2014 and no progress had been made in that regard despite the approval of his promotion by the central selection board.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Adnanul Karim Memon, was hearing the plea.

Withdrawing the arrest warrant for the finance secretary, the bench also directed the federal establishment secretary to ensure the implementation of the court's directives in the case.

The directive was issued after the deputy attorney general (AGP) informed the court that instructions for the petitioner's promotion had been given and entreated it to withdraw the arrest warrant issued for the finance secretary.

At the last hearing, the court had ordered the arrest of the finance secretary over non-compliance with the court's directives.

Show-cause notices

Separately, the court issued show-cause notices to the chairperson and managing director of the Sindh Small Industries Corporation (SSIC), seeking replies on the non-implementation of court orders regarding the institution's buildings. The court also directed the NAB, Karachi chairperson and director general to investigate all matters related to the case.

The court expressed displeasure over the performance of the institution's top officers and warned that contempt of court proceedings may be initiated against them.

The officers were directed to appear before the court at the next hearing. Moreover, the court directed the Sindh chief secretary to personally ensure implementation of the recommendations of the inquiry committee in the case, complete all proceedings within three months and submit a report.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2021.