Justice Ahmed Khan Chattha of the Muzaffargarh civil court on Thursday issued non-bailable arrest warrant for the executive district officer (health) for ignoring three notices to appear before the judge.
The EDO is accused of implicating a couple in a false robbery case that led to their suspension from their jobs at the Health Department.
The judge also directed the police concerned to ensure that the EDO was produced before the court on November 17, the next date of hearing.
Police said EDO Aashiq Malik had raided a rural health centre in Rohinlawali four months ago and had accused laboratory assistant Rana Jameel and his wife Najma Parveen, an assistant technician, of power pilferage.
He had then lodged an FIR against the two at Rohinlawali police station. He had also submitted an application at the city police station saying that Jameel was threatening to kill him if he did not withdraw the case.
The couple was suspended from their jobs and their salaries were also stopped. Police
When police investigated, they found the charges against the couple baseless. They also submitted a copy of the investigation report to the Health Department declaring the theft allegations against the couple false. Police also said that there was no evidence that the couple had threatened the EDO.
After the police investigations, Jameel submitted an application to District Coordination Officer Mohsin Abrar asking him to reinstate him and his wife after the allegations against them had been proven false.
Jameel filed a petition against the EDO under Section 182 (false information) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Jameel also named the DCO in the petition for not taking action on his application.
The judge had summoned the EDO on three summons, but he did not appear before the court. He had ordered an inquiry into the matter.
When contacted, EDO Malik told The Express Tribune that he was in Lahore for official work and therefore could not appear in court.
He said he respected the court and would appear before the judge on the next hearing.
Meanwhile, talking to The Tribune after the hearing, Jameel and his wife said they would approach the Multan bench of the Lahore High Court if action was not taken against the EDO.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2012.
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