Razmak college case: IHC issues reminder to officials

FATA secretary, SAFRON secretary, K-P principal secretary yet to submit reply

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued a reminder to federal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) government officials directing them to submit a reply in a case pertaining to payment of Razmak Cadet College employees’ pensions.

In May, over 100 employees of the college in North Waziristan filed a contempt petition in the IHC saying that some government officials were defying court orders in connection with the employees’ pension.

FATA Secretariat Secretary Muhammad Azam Khan, SAFRON Secretary Pir Bakhsh Jamali, and K-P Principal Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam have been made respondents in the petition.

Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi issued reminders to the respondents, as they have yet to submit replies.

A total of 132 petitioners filed the petition through their counsel, Mir Aurangzaib.

It read that the previous petition was disposed off on November 26, 2014, with directions to the respondents to expedite final concurrence of the federal government, but nothing has happened so far.

By not complying with the court order, a grave intentional and deliberate violation has been committed by the respondents and they are liable to be proceeded against for contempt of court, Aurangzaib stated.

Respondents were approached and requested for early, action but they refused, read the contempt plea. They were adamant to defy the court order and should be dealt with according to law, it further stated.

The college is the only successful educational institute in FATA and has produced thousands of officers who are serving in various departments, the petition read. In spite of rendering service, loyalty, efficiency, devotion, and dedication, the employees were deprived of pensions, while those at other institutions are getting pensions after retirement, it further said.

The respondents have adopted a pick-and-choose policy, the petition added.

It has been prayed that the contributory provident fund should be converted into a general provident fund scheme and time scale and extra duty allowances should be provided as the petitioners are entitled to them.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2015.