Pakistan: Delay in security grant for Muharram challenged

PESHAWAR: A two-member bench of Peshawar High Court on Tuesday sought comments within 10 days from the provincial government and Kohat Municipal Committee in a writ petition filed by former MNA and chairman of Shia Sunni Amn Jirga, Javed Ibrahim Paracha, challenging delay in provision of security grant meant for maintaining peace at divisional level during Muharram and Eid Milad processions.

The bench comprising Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain and Justice Ikramullah Khan also admitted to full hearing the writ petition observing that the points raised by the petitioner needed consideration.

The bench adjourned hearing of the case while next date would be fixed later on.

The petitioner, who is also chief of Sunni Supreme Council, stated that he was guarantor on behalf of Amn Jirga, for carrying out peaceful activities during the holy months of Muharram and Rabiul Awwal. For conducting those activities peacefully, grant to the tune of Rs1.5 million had normally been provided to Kohat Municipal Committee, he added.

Advocates Lateef Afridi and Asghar Khan Kundi appeared for the petitioner and contended that Kohat was a sensitive division keeping in view sectarian tension during the past many years. They added that last year curfew was imposed in Hangu after violent clashes and due to same reason the forthcoming months of Muharram and Rabiul Awal were also sensitive.

The counsels stated that the said grant was meant for arranging logistics for the security personnel including vehicles, petrol and food, etc. They added that as Eidul Azha was approaching and there would be official holidays, therefore, it appeared that the provision of the grant would be further delayed which might hampered security arrangements during Muharram and Rabiul Awal.

They contended that last year the high court had declared setting up of peace jirga under an agreement between both the sects and provision of the said grant by the provincial government as legal.

The petitioner stated that for almost same purpose the government had also been providing IDPs grant to the tune of Rs1.5 million in Kohat division, which was meant for carrying out religious activities by the displaced persons from Kurram and Orakzai agencies.

He added that the said grant had also been delayed. He stated that displaced persons from North Waziristan Agency were also residing in Kohat, therefore, the grant should be increased.

Meanwhile, another bench of the high court ordered Pakistan Post Office department to appoint son of a former post master in accordance with the policy laid down for retired employees’ quota in services.

The bench comprising Justice Nisar Hussain and Justice Asadullah Khan Chamkani accepted a writ petition filed by Jehangir Khan, stating that his father retired as a post master after serving for many years and now the department had not been appointing him against the said post.

Advocate Gul Hussain Khilji appeared for the petitioner and contended that the petitioner’s father retried few years ago and he submitted an application for his appointment. He stated that on July 3, 2009, a notification was issued in the department wherein it was stated that if an employee in or below scale-7 got retired his son should be appointed against employees son quota.

The counsel stated that the department had now been saying that as the post of post master had now been upgraded from scale 7, therefore the petitioner was no longer entitled to be appointed against the said post.

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