Oath denial to MPAs: PHC summons KP Assembly speaker, others in contempt case

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the speaker, deputy speaker and secretary of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on a petition against the non-administration of oath to women lawmakers elected on the reserved seats of provincial assembly.

Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Syed Arshad Ali heard the contempt of court petition of the Pakistan Peoples Party-affiliated women members of provincial assembly, who were recently elected on the reserved seats.

The bench issued notices to KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi and Secretary Kifayatullah. They were asked to explain their position on the matter at the next hearing into the contempt of court petition.

Aamir Javed Advocate and Barrister Saqib Raza, who appeared on behalf of the petitioners, told the bench that the high court had directed the speaker and deputy speaker of KP Assembly to administer the oath to reserved seats MPAs.

He said the court had ordered the speaker and deputy speaker to facilitate the MPAs in question so that they could cast their votes in the Senate election, however, they did not comply with the orders, which amounted to contempt of court.

The lawyers requested the court to declare the speaker and deputy speaker disqualified for flouting the court orders.

After hearing the arguments, the court issued notices to the speaker, deputy speaker and secretary of the KP Assembly to appear at the next hearing to explain their position on the matter.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl MPAs, who were elected on the reserved seats, also filed the contempt of court petition through their lawyer Farooq Afridi Advocate.

They sought contempt of court proceedings against the speaker, deputy speaker and secretary of the KP Assembly for ignoring the court orders.