ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday withdrew the arrest warrants for the chairman of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) after its counsel told the court that due to confusion over holiday the chairman could not turn up.

The district administration on Feb 28 issued a notification declaring Mar 1 as public holiday due to the ECO Summit, but the litigants even the officials of the city courts were not sure whether the courts would function or avail; holiday.

However, the courts on Wednesday worked as per routine.

The court had issued a notice to the Nadra chairman in a petition filed by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) seeking computerisation of revenue records and upgrading of IT infrastructure and allied facilities at a local police station and in the excise and taxation office.

During the hearing, Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi seized with the matter observed that chairman Nadra was not present.

Justice Qureshi then issued bailable arrest warrants for Nadra chairman but later withdrew after counsel of the registration authority adopted before the court since the district administration had declared Mar 1 as public holiday, therefore, chairman Nadra Mobeen assumed that the IHC would be observing holiday on Wednesday.

He assured the court that the chairman would appear before the court on March 3, the next date of hearing.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2017