Humayun Khan
PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) issued a notice of contempt of court to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker over the issue of not taking oath on reserved seats Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, on Wednesday.
PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Syed Arshad Ali heard the case of contempt of court against Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi and Secretary of the KP Assembly Kifayat Ullah. PHC issued the notice and sought the response of the KP Assembly speaker and deputy speaker at the next hearing.
During hearing Barrister Saqib Raza along Amir Javed and Farooq Afridi advocates appeared on behalf of Member Provincial Assembly nominated on reserved seats. A petition has been filed in the Peshawar High Court that the elected members of the Reserved Seats for Women and Minorities were not sworn in despite the court orders.
In the petition, it is appealed to the court that the speaker and the deputy speaker should be disqualified for disobeying the court orders under the law of contempt of court. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has postponed the Senate elections on 11 seats of the KP due to an incomplete electoral college as the oath of elected lawmakers on reserved seats for women and minorities was not administrated in the KP assembly.
Meanwhile, PHC similar bench issued notice to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for submission of reply in plea against enlistment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) social media activist and candidate for Senate Azhar Mashwani wife and brother in Exit Control List (ECL).
The counsel Syed Sikandar Shah argued that Azhar’s wife and brother enlisted in ECL as they neither charged in any case nor booked First Information Report. The petitioners pleaded for withdrawal of their names from ECL as they are going to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, the counsel argued.
PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Syed Arshad Ali issued notice to FIA for submission of reply in this regard while adjourned further hearing after initial arguments.
Closure of internet: Court directs PTA to submit reply
F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: A divisional bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) comprising of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Waqar Ahmad ordered Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) along with Ministry of Information Technology for submission of reply in plea against closure of internet services in Peshawar at 10PM, on Wednesday.
The counsel Fawad Afzal Safi advocate argued that PTA is closing internet services from 10Pm till 6am in the morning in the name security in Peshawar and adjacent areas which cut-off contact of the residents with rest of Pakistan from last 20 days. It is responsibility of PTA to ensure smooth services but the authority had failed to perform her duty in the holy moth of Ramzan despite the fact that maximum shopping for Eid is already scheduled online, the lawyer stated.
PTA became a spectator in both cases of closure of internet services as well as in poor services providing by cellular companies to the residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa especially Peshawar, the counsel further added. He claimed that PTA didn’t cooperated with applicant despite the Regulator as several complaints were filed in this regard but to no veil. The closure of internet after 10pm in Peshawar is constitutional discrimination with the residents under Article 25 as the service is available in the rest of cities in Pakistan, the lawyer argued. PHC divisional bench ordered PTA along with order respondents for submission of reply after initial arguments while adjourned further hearing.
Meanwhile, PHC ordered Halal Food authority, transport department along with Food’s department for continuous actions against profiteers and hoarders for curtaining price hike during holy month of Ramzan to control high inflation. The counsel for petitioner Abbas Sangeen advocate, Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Special Secretary’s Home Muhammad Zubair, Secretary’s Food Zareef-ul-Mani, Director Transport Zeeshan along with Director Food Yasir Hussain appeared before court during the hearing.
The officials informed that fines in lacs as well as First Information Reports in hundreds have been registered against profiteers and hoarders across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A progress report has also submitted before PHC regarding actions taken for controlling inflation during Ramzan. A specialized plan has been developed to ensure fair fares during Eid season in public transport for passengers, the officials claimed before PHC. However, Justice Waqar Ahmad directed for dissemination of contacts of concerned officials on print, electronic and Social Media for larger public interest to upheld their grievances with competent authority.
More than1000 samples of milk were collected from different point across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in which 906 were found healthy for human usage while 155 were adulterated as per laboratory reports, the officials informed. PHC’s divisional bench comprising of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Waqar Ahmad ordered Secretary Food, Director Transport and Director General Halal Food Authority for submission of report regarding steps taken for public facilitation on next hearing.
