Employment woes: Secretaries issued notice on contempt petition

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the chief secretary and the environment and the services secretaries on a contempt petition. Justice Shahid Waheed issued the notice on a public interest petition moved by one Muhammad Ibrahim. The court sought replies from Chief Secretary Khyzer Hayat Gondal, Environment Protection Secretary Iqbal Muhammad Khan and Services Secretary Ijaz Munir by September 18. 

The petitioner’s counsel told the court that Tariq Zaman had been appointed assistant director (field) for the Environment Protection Department. He said he had later taken charge as administration officer with Lahore district coordination officer.  He said Zaman had used connections to get lucrative postings since his appointment.

He said last year, the chief secretary had informed the Lahore High Court that he would be back sent to the department. He said a year had passed since then but Zaman had not returned to the department.

He said his contract with the DCO’s office ended in September but he continued to work as the administration officer. He asked the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the chief secretary and secretaries for Services and Environment Protection Departments.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2015.