PHC issues notice to KPEC on plea filed by former secretary

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday issued a notice to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission in a writ petition by former secretary Mines and Mineral Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mian Waheeduddin, about two references filed against him in a case of misuse of authority and illegal mining.

The former secretary of Mines and Mineral had filed the petition through his lawyer Mauzzam But. He had challenged two references filed against him in the Ehtesab Court by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC).

The petitioner’s lawyer submitted before a two-member bench comprising Justice Irshad Qaiser and Justice Roohul Amin Khan that the KPEC had filed two references against the petitioner about illegal mining and misuse of his authority.

The petitioner was nominated in the references submitted in the Ehtesab Court against the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf minister Ziaullah Afridi. It was stated in the references that four suspects had misused their office by making around 90 illegal appointments, postings and transfers in the department.  Apart from Ziaullah Afridi, the three other suspects in the case are Mines and Mineral Development Department Secretary Mian Waheeduddin, Director General Dr Liaquat Ali and Administrator Mir Zaman.

Except Mian Waheeduddin, all suspects have been arrested by the commission as the PHC in an interim order had restrained the commission from arresting him.The petitioner’s lawyer submitted that under the KPEC Amended Act 2106, the KPEC was bound to file a reference in 120 days but in these cases over eight months had passed.

Furthermore, he said, the investigation officer in these cases was not an expert as he was an accountant in the commission and had never conducted investigation. The lawyer said the investigation in the references was vague and incomplete.

He prayed that all the investigation and references against the petitioner be declared illegal and void. The court was prayed to quash the proceedings in the references.As interim relief, the court was requested to restrain the KPEC from harassing and taking action against the petitioner till disposal of the petition.