PHC seeks report on Sikh crematoriums

Court orders building of boundary walls on land

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court has directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and other officials to submit a response within 21 days on a petition filed to build a crematorium (Shamshan Ghat) for the Sikh community of the province.

The case was heard by a two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court, comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Waqar Ahmed. The petitioner's lawyer, Gopal Singh, informed the court that there is no crematorium in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for the Sikh community, and they have to transport the deceased to Attock for the last rites.

The lawyer further stated that the court had already issued directives to provide land for a crematorium for the Sikh community, but despite these orders, the land has not been provided.

The lawyer also mentioned that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government had promised to provide two kanals of land in Peshawar and four kanals in Nowshera, and the Sikh community had agreed to the land allocated by the government.

The court then inquired from the additional advocate general about the status of the report it had requested. The government lawyer responded that the report had not yet been received.

The bench ordered that the provision of the crematorium's boundary wall and other necessary facilities should be ensured. The bench directed the K-P CS to submit a report at the next hearing.

Teachers against promotion procedure

Over 700 teachers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have approached the Services Tribunal against the provincial government's promotion procedure.

The Services Tribunal accepted the teachers' petition for regular hearing and summoned the K-P Education Department secretary, along with other relevant officials, on December 9.

In August 2020, the K-P Education Department removed the clause from the Civil Servants Rules that allowed voluntary withdrawal from promotions, and issued a notification making it mandatory for teachers to achieve promotions. In response to this notification, the teachers filed a petition with the Services Tribunal.

The Services Tribunal accepted the teachers' petitions for regular hearing and ordered the consolidation of all petitions. Advocates Moazzam Butt and Adil Butt appeared on behalf of the teachers and argued that removing the clause for voluntary withdrawal from promotions is a violation of fundamental rights and the Constitution.

After the initial hearing, the court summoned the secretary and other officials for a hearing on December 9. The next hearing will be conducted by a two-member bench of the Services Tribunal.

Bails extended

The Peshawar High Court has extended the protective bail of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi, Chief Minister's Special Assistant Mishal Yousafzai, PTI leaders Sanam Javed, Punjab PTI leader Raja Basharat, and Aliya Hamza.

The court issued notices to the federal government to provide details of cases registered against Suraiya Bibi and Sanam Javed within seven days.

The petition regarding cases against Raja Basharat and Aliya Hamza was heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Waqar Ahmed. The bench ordered that the petitioners should not be arrested in the registered cases. Meanwhile, petitions by other leaders were heard by a two-member bench of Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah. Advocate Alam Khan Adeenzai represented the petitioners.