PHC orders KP govt to promote PFI director

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to promote the Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI) director from BPS-19 to BPS-20 and appoint him its director general within 15 days.
The two-member bench comprising of Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Mussarat Hilali was hearing a contempt of court petition filed by Hakeem Shah, who is currently director of the PFI.
He had challenged the non-implementation of an earlier order of the court about his promotion.
The court observed that in case of non-implementation of its directives, the provincial chief secretary and environment and forests secretary should appear in person at the next hearing.
Zartaj Anwar appearing for the petitioner said the high court on April 21, 2015 ordered the promotion of his client to BPS-20.
He said despite the passage of around five months, the government had neither promoted his client nor appointed him as the director general of the PFI.
Additional Advocate General Mujahid Ali said the provincial government had filed an appeal against the judgment in the Supreme Court.
The bench observed that the order should be complied with within 15 days or else the provincial chief secretary and environment and forests secretary should appear before the court in case of non-compliance.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday dismissed the bail petition of a terror suspect charged with masterminding the 2013 suicide attack on the Madrassa Ariful Hussaini in which 15 worshippers were killed and dozens injured.
A single bench headed by Justice Asadullah Khan Chamkani dismissed the
bail petition of the terror suspect, Fazal Muhammad alias Dadullah, a resident of Tirah valley in Khyber Agency after hearing arguments from both the sides.
The petitioner’s lawyer submitted that the terror suspect was arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department on June 7, 2015 for his alleged involvement in the June 21, 2013 Madrassa Ariful Hussaini suicide attack.
He submitted that his client was falsely implicated in the case as there was no solid evidence on record against him and thus he would be released on bail.
The complainant’s lawyer opposed the release of the terror suspect on bail. He said he was booked under Sections 302, 324 and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), and Section 3 and 4 of the Explosives Substance Act.
He submitted that the accused had facilitated and prepared the suicide bomber for the attack and was actively involved in the suicide attack on the imambargah.
He contended that there were solid proof about the involvement of the accused in the suicide attack and his bail petition be dismissed.
On June 21, 2013, as many as 15 worshippers were killed while dozens injured in a
suicide attack on Madrassa Hussainia, popularly known
as Madrassa Arif Hussaini, in Gulshan Colony in the jurisdiction of Chamkani Police Station.
A suicide bomber entered the imambargah and detonated his vest at the prayer leader’s pulpit just as his accomplices opened fire on the security guards.