The directives were given while hearing the case of Parveen Bibi whose son was killed in an attack two years ago but still awaits compensation. PHOTO: PPI
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordered the government to conduct an inquiry against secretaries and officials who have not submitted comments in cases despite court orders. In a hearing on Tuesday, the PHC directed such officials should be removed from duty, even expelled from the province, if they continue to disregard and ignore their responsibilities.
Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Asadullah Khan Chamkani issued the order while hearing the case of Parveen Bibi. Parveen, whose son was killed in an attack on a police station two years ago, is still waiting on the government to release compensation.
Two brothers Shahbaz Masih and Nawaz Masih were arrested by the police in a minor case and placed in lockup at Gulabad checkpoint, petitioner’s lawyer Nasruminallah Advocate informed the court. In July 2011, a militant attack on the check post in question killed Shahbaz and injured Nawaz.
The bench was also informed of the delay by the provincial government in releasing compensation. The government has still not submitted comments in the case despite a court order and a two-year time lapse.
This is not the first instance where officials have not submitted comments in cases, noted the bench, expressing dissatisfaction over the delay.
“If secretaries and other officials are not submitting comments following the order of the court then it would be good to send some of them to jail or impose heavy fines on them which they would pay from their own pocket,” said CJ Khan.
After hearing the arguments, the court directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to form an inquiry committee to identify officials disobeying the orders of the court. If in future the practice continues, then such officials should either be removed from their positions or expelled from the province, stated the bench.
The court ordered the provincial government to release the compensation amount to the families of the deceased immediately.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2013.
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