SC hints at contempt action against 3 KP secretaries

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday hinted at initiating contempt of court proceedings against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) secretaries of education, finance, and communications in a case related to the condition of public educational institutions in the province.

A five-member Constitutional Bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Justice Shakeel Ahmed and Justice Aamir Farooq, heard a suo motu case regarding the condition of educational institutions in the KP.

The bench ordered the KP secretaries of education, finance, and communications to appear in person at the next hearing and submit a written explanation for their absence. The court also hinted at initiating contempt proceedings against them for failing to comply with its orders. During the hearing, the bench expressed strong displeasure over the absence of the education secretary, noting that despite previous court orders, the official had failed to appear.

Justice Mandokhail observed, “You all have turned this into a joke,” and asked the provincial law officer to read the court’s previous order.

“You are not taking the court’s orders seriously, while a provincial secretary is refusing to listen to this court,” Justice Mandokhail continued, adding that this behaviour was unacceptable.

Addressing the KP advocate general, Justice Mandokhail stated that the secretary could reach Islamabad from Peshawar in two hours and directed him to call the official immediately. “Otherwise, we also know how to summon officials,” he remarked. The court then took a break until 12 noon, ordering the secretaries to appear in person. However, after the break, the secretaries failed to appear. A medical report on behalf of the communication secretary was submitted to the court at 11:13am, after the bench had already left for the break.

Justice Mandokhail noted that the report was submitted late and remarked that the court might have to summon a medical board to review its authenticity.

Meanwhile, the KP additional advocate general informed the court that the education and finance secretaries had reached the Hazara Interchange on the Motorway.

The court issued directives that the three secretaries must personally appear at the next hearing and explain why they failed to implement the court’s orders. It also warned that contempt of court proceedings could be initiated against them if they failed to comply with the orders.

The hearing was adjourned until April 9.