Alleged nepotism: Court dismisses reinstatement petition

Told an enquiry found the former college principal guilty of illegal appointments.

PESHAWAR:

A writ petition seeking the reinstatement of the principal of Fazal Haq College, Mardan was dismissed by the Peshawar High Court on Thursday.

Abdul Samad, counsel for petitioner Colonel (retd) Sultan Zeb, told Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Roohul Amin Khan that his client was appointed on July 6, 2006 on a contractual basis for three years.

Samad told the court the government extended the contract for another three years on July 11, 2009 and the same was done on July 26, 2012.

The last contract was supposed to expire on July 10, 2015.

However, Samad said, “The deputy commissioner of Mardan sent a letter to the government blaming my client for corruption and some illegal appointments.” He added, “The secretary education, who is also on the board of governors of the college, forcefully sent my client on leave and another person was appointed to the seat.”

Samad told the court, “My client was not given any prior show-cause notice and he was also not given the opportunity to hear the allegations made against him, which is illegal.

This court had already suspended the notification of his suspension,” said Abdul Samad.  Amjid Ali, who was defending the college, and Assistant Advocate General Syed Sikandar Shah told the court the petitioner was appointed on a contract and the authority which appointed him had removed him.

They added the petitioner was removed from service after an enquiry found him making illegal appointments and responsible for financial irregularities.

After hearing both arguments, the court dismissed the petition seeking the reinstatement of Zeb.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2014.