SHC seeks response in doctor’s demotion case

Petition says Civil Hospital doctor was demoted four days before retirement

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought response from the petitioner on the submission of Advocate General Sindh's reply to the petition related to the demotion of Dr. Nadeem-ur-Rehman of Civil Hospital.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar heard the petition. Chief Secretary Sindh Sohail Rajput and Advocate General Sindh Hasan Akbar appeared in the court.

The court reprimanded Sindh AG for not submitting the reply on time. Justice Ghaffar remarked, if the performance continues like this, we will stop issuing notices to the AG office. In such a case, the court will directly ask the secretaries to answer.

The attitude of the AG office is forcing us to directly seek answers from the concerned departments. According to the rules, the court may call for a reply from the AG office, but their performance is forcing us to think otherwise.

The AG Sindh office sought adjournment in the application not once or twice but eight times. This situation is not limited to this application only; the court is facing the similar situation in other applications as well. If there will be so much delay in submitting the answer, when will the court decide? We are not fond of reprimanding and calling officers, the justice remarked.

AG Sindh apologised to the court and assured to make a mechanism on the issue of submission of answer in the court. AG Sindh stated that a joint mechanism has been formed with the chief secretary. He said, now response will be submitted on time.

The court adjourned the hearing till December 1, directing the petitioner to file the reply. In the petition, the position was taken that the chief minister, who is the competent authority, promoted the doctor to grade 20 from grade 19, but the promotion notification was cancelled four days before retirement. The chief secretary misused the powers.

The decision should be annulled.

Case of Karachi girl

Sindh high court has sought more argument on the application regarding the meeting of Zaheer in the case of Karachi girl's marriage of choice by going to Lahore.

Muhammad Farooq Advocate submitted a power of attorney on behalf of Zaheer in the case in front of the single bench of Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar. Farooq Advocate gave arguments on Zaheer's request for a meeting.

The petitioner's lawyer took stand that a meeting should be arranged with Zaheer. Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar inquired whether the girl wants to meet her husband. The petitioner's lawyer stated that the girl should be called here and asked. Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar remarked that give responsibility to a judicial magistrate.

The lawyer of the petitioner stated that they are saying that the court should call. The court called for further arguments on the application till November 30.