PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Monday directed the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to appear in person in a contempt of court petition regarding the alleged non-implementation of court orders related to the pro-forma promotion of a senior cardiologist to BPS-21.

The petition was filed by renowned cardiologist Dr. Fauzullah Farooq, who had earlier been granted pro-forma promotion to BPS-21 on the basis of meritorious service by a Division Bench of the PHC.

 The Division Bench had set aside adverse remarks made by the Special Selection Committee, declaring them legally unsustainable, and directed that the marks already awarded be considered and the case be placed before the Provincial Selection Board (PSB) for formal recommendation.

During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Nouman Muhib Kakakhel, argued that despite clear and binding directions of the High Court, the PSB once again relied on the findings of the Special Selection Committee, which had already been nullified by the court.

 He contended that the PSB had no authority to reassess matters already conclusively decided by the High Court.

The petitioner’s counsel further submitted that the High Court had already determined that the required 75 percent threshold for meritorious promotion was fulfilled, whereas the PSB recalculated the marks and concluded that only 74.54 percent had been achieved, in blatant disregard of the court’s ruling. 

He maintained that this amounted to willful disobedience of court orders and constituted contempt of court.

After hearing the arguments, the court observed that the matter prima facie reflected non-compliance with explicit judicial directions. 

Consequently, the bench ordered the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to appear in person and explain why the court’s orders were not implemented and why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against the responsible authorities.

The hearing was adjourned to a later date.