Non-compliance : Secretary interior, IGP put on notice

Directs them to submit written statements on September 25.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued show cause notices to the secretary of the Interior Ministry and the capital’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) for not complying with court orders. The court had ordered the officials to get 16 schools of the capital vacated from police personnel.

Justice Athar Minallah issued the show cause notice to Interior Secretary Shahid Khan and acting IGP Tahir Alam Khan, asking them to explain why court orders were not followed. The court directed the officials to submit their written statements before the court on September 25.

On September 19, the court ordered the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration to get the schools vacated in four days. The schools are currently in the use of police personnel, mostly from Punjab, who have been deputed in the city to provide security in the wake of the ongoing Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) sit-ins.

The court issued the show cause notice on a petition filed by local traders. On Monday, when the court resumed hearing, it was informed that 16 schools are still in possession of the police. Justice Minallah expressed concern and asked why the court’s order was not followed in this regard.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil informed the court that he had conveyed the court’s order to the interior secretary and IGP, and that Islamabad Police is the competent authority to vacate the schools.

The court then issued the show cause notice and observed that the responsible officials would be brought to task.

During the course of hearing, the judge also observed that the prime minister and interior minister would be held responsible for financial losses to the national exchequer for giving permission to the protesters to carry on their activities while keeping the city administration’s order aside.

From day one, the city administration did not allow protesters to stage the sit-ins but the interior minister admitted that the prime minister had ordered to allow them to do so.

Meanwhile, according to the Capital Administration and Development Division, six more schools have been vacated by security personnel on Monday.  The schools were identified as the Islamabad Model School for Girls G-6/2, Islamabad Model School for Boys G-6/4, Islamabad Model College for Girls G-9/2, Islamabad Model College for Boys G-9/4, Islamabad Model Schools for Boys 1-10/1, and Islamabad Model School for Boys I-10/2.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2014.