PHC issues notices to Shangla DC, nazim

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday issued notices to deputy commissioner and district nazim of Shangla in a writ petition filed by the Shangla Bar Association which had sought handover of a government building to the district courts.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim issued notices to the deputy commissioner and district nazim Shangla and others.  They were directed to submit reply and explain as to why the building was not handed over to the district courts despite approval by the provincial government.

The bench after issuing notices to the respondents transferred the case to the chief justice bench for next hearing to be held on November 16. The bench issued directives in a writ petition of the Shangla Bar Association. It was filed through its president Jawad Ali Noor, general secretary Jehanzeb and other office-bearers.

It was stated in the petition that the chief minister in a meeting with the Shangla Bar Association office-bearers had allowed a government building for housing district courts. It was stated that the PHC then approved hand-over of the building for shifting the district courts from the building of Revenue Department.

During the hearing, the president of Shangla Bar Association informed the court that the district administration and district nazim of Shangla were opposing the shifting. The lawyers body submitted that the district Shangla courts were limited to two or three rooms in the Revenue Department. It said the judges, lawyers and litigants were facing hardships in the congested and improper place.