PESHAWAR, Dec 18: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday issued show cause notices to the provincial health secretary and two other officials in a contempt of court petition.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Nasirul Mulk and Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, ordered that the three alleged contemnors — secretary health, director general health services and assistant political agent, Miramshah (North Waziristan Agency) — should appear in person on Dec 23.

The bench has asked the accused officials to show-cause why not contempt of court proceedings should be started against them.

The lawyer, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, Dr Hasham Daraz, and contended that the officials had been delaying the matter of the adjustment of the petitioner as medical superintendent of Agency Headquarters Hospital, Miramshah, in accordance with a court’s order as the petitioner would retire in the second week of January 2004.

The bench observed that the matter was now between the court and the contemnors and the court had to take action against the officials.

An official of the health department had appeared before the court on Wednesday and had stated that they had sent a summary for his appointment to the governor. The court had directed the official that the order should be issued till Thursday (Dec 18).