PHC issues show cause notice in contempt of court hearing to FC Commandant

Issued as he fails to reappoint more than 300 personnel removed from service in early 2010 despite court orders.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) issued a show cause notice in contempt of court hearing to the Frontier Constabulary (FC) commandant for failing to reappoint more than 300 personnel removed from service in early 2010 despite court orders.

The notice was issued by a two-member division bench comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Yahya Afridi while hearing a contempt of court petition filed by Fazal Khaliq.

The bench was informed by petitioner’s counsels Abdul Latif Afridi and Khalid Noor Afridi that the removal of the FC personnel was unjustified. PHC had earlier declared the action null and void and had ordered they be reappointed.

The bench was informed that as the government has failed to reappoint the officials despite clear court orders, a contempt notice should be issued against those responsible.

The court, after hearing the arguments, issued a show cause notice to FC Commandant Abdul Majeed Khan Marwat and sought a report from him over the issue.

The FC personnel were removed from service in early 2010 when they allegedly refused to carry out an operation against suspected militants. After their removal, FC personnel approached the court for their reinstatement on their own positions, to which the court ordered the FC commandant to do the same.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2014.

Correction: An earlier version of the story mistakenly stated 'contempt of court notice' instead of 'show cause notice.'