PHC issues notices in PMDC VP appointment case

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday issued a notice to federal government in a writ petition challenging appointment of Dr Abid Farooqui as vice-president of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and his membership.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Roohul Amin Khan and Justice Syed Afsar Shah issued the notice in a writ petition filed by Dr Ijaz Hussain Khan, principal, Khyber Medical College.  The petitioner’s lawyer, Waseemuddin Khattak, submitted that Dr Abid Farooqui was recently elected as member of the PMDC so he was using his powers as its vice-president.  He argued that as per rules of the PMDC, a person who remained a member of PMDC five years, could neither be nominated as a member again nor contested PMDC election.

He said that to elect Dr Abid Farooqui as its member and then gave him the power of vice-president of PMDC was illegal and against the law. The lawyer requested the court to restrain him from using the office of vice-president PMDC till final decision on the case.