PHC annuls Education Dept’s order on school furniture

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday annulled the education department’s order regarding cancellation of a contract awarded for supply of furniture to the government schools.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Roohul Amin Khan allowed the petitioners to continue supply of furniture to the government schools as per the contracts.

Pakistan Traders and Mardan Traders had filed the writ petition through their lawyer Sardar Ali Raza against the cancellation order of the contracts. The lawyer submitted that the provincial education department on February 9, 2016 issued tenders for supply of furniture to the government schools in Mardan district.

He argued that the provincial government awarded the contracts to Pakistan Traders and Mardan Traders after complete procedure and participation in the bid process. He said the provincial government then issued work order in May 2016. He said that when the petitioners started work on preparation of the furniture, they received a letter from the executive district officer (EDO) Mardan about cancellation of the contracts without reasons.

Additional Advocate General (AAG) Umar Farooq Adam appeared in the case and submitted that the petitioners did nothing wrong as the furniture bids were issued beyond the numbers to be issued and thus the contracts were cancelled.