Rejoining of Special Secy: PHC orders reply

Humayun Khan
PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordered Speaker and Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for submission of reply in writ seeking rejoining of Special Secretary after deputation, on Friday.
PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice SM Attique Shah heard writ petition of Waqar Ahmad while Mian Zakir Hussain advocate appeared before court during the hearing.
The counsel argued that Waqar Ahmad was deputed to National Institute of Parliamentary Affair in August 2019 for three years which is ended in August 2023 and the petitioner reported to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly but didn’t allow for joining the parent department. Moreover, the salary of petitioner is also attached and requested PHC to direct respondent to allow Waqar Ahmad to rejoin as well releasing of salary, the counsel added.
PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice SM Attique Shah ordered respondents for submission of reply while adjourned further hearing. PHC converts death penalties to lifetime imprisonment: PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah partially allowed appeal of convicted murder from death sentence to lifetime imprisonment in killing of four persons including his father.
According to prosecution, the accused Zahoor had killed his father named Atlas Khan, brother Faqir Hussain along with niece and nephew over house dispute on 17th April 2017 in the premises of Akbarpura police station. However, Additional District and Session Judge had convicted Zahoor for four times death penalty along Rs8 lac fine over killing of four persons including his father and brother.
Additional Advocate General Nisar Khan, court’s assistant Barrister Emir Ullah Chamkani and counsel Sajeed Khan Afridi advocate appeared before PHC. The petitioner had made comprised with deceased family but can’t able to pay compensation to the minor of the family while argued that death penalty can be converted into lifetime imprisonment if accused didn’t able to pay compensation, the court informed. PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah accepted plea partially by converting four times death penalty to four times lifetime imprisonment.
Meanwhile, PHC’s divisional bench comprised of Justice Abdul Shakoor and Justice Syed Arshad Ali granted status quo to mining contractor against cancellation of marble excavation license in Mohmand district as well as ordered submission of comments.
The counsel Umair Iqbal advocate argued that Khalid Yousaf had obtained marble excavation license for Mohmand while completing all documentation and requirements but Deputy Commissioner had cancelled it on directives of high-ups without any reason. The counsel further added that the license was granted to a contractor from Punjab after cancellation of petitioner’s license which is illegal because no reason had provided for cancellation. He added that Deputy Commissioner had no jurisdiction to cancel mining license without any reason. PHC’s divisional comprised of Justice Shakeel Ahmad and Justice Syed Arshad Ali granted status quo and ordered submission of reply after conclusion of arguments.