Stepping in: PHC reiterates order, tells police department to release salaries

Gives one-month period for release of funds.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed the police department to release the salaries of 52 employees of the Police Public School Peshawar within one month.

A two-member division bench comprising Justice Nisar Hussain and Justice Musarrat Hilali issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by Rana Mehnaz. The petition stated the K-P police department had not paid the employees their increased salaries for the last one year.



Mehnaz’s counsel, Nasruminallah, told the court the school was not paying the new salaries despite court orders, and was creating problems for employees as a result.

“The school administration has completed its findings on salaries, which amount to Rs17.4 million, and forwarded it to the IGP, who is the chairman of the board of governors,” responded the legal counsel for Police Public School Shakil Ahmad. He informed the bench it would take around one month to complete the process and release the salaries in question. “The court is requested to provide a time period in this regard,” he added.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench ordered the police department to release the suspended salaries before appearing in court for the next hearing on September 17. The bench maintained stern action would be taken against relevant officials in K-P’s police department if they failed to comply with these directives, and adjourned the case.

Additionally, Justice Hilali said the police department was dealing with women employees in an inappropriate manner, compelling them to consult the courts and wait for long periods in the hope that their rights are upheld.

On July 30, a two-member PHC bench comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Malik Manzoor ordered the police department to release outstanding payments to employees within a day. The bench observed the police department had been ordered to pay these areas in January, but was yet to do so.

Upon this, Shakil Ahmad had maintained the department had complied with court orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2013.