PESHAWAR, Nov 1: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court  has summoned the provincial secretary  establishment department on Nov 14 in connection with a contempt of court petition.

The petition is filed by a divisional forest officer (DFO), Qazi Ashraf, stating that the provincial government had not been following the orders of the high court and the NWFP Services Tribunal.

The  petitioner’s  counsel contended before  the  court, comprising Justice Abdur Rauf Lughmani and Justice Ijazul Hassan, that despite repeated requests the government had not been obeying the court’s order. He contended that the act of the government amounted to contempt of the high court and action should be taken against the concerned department under the contempt of court law.

The petitioner has claimed that since 1994 his promotion to BPS-19 was due but his requests were turned down. He stated that he moved the NWFP Services Tribunal, which decided the case in his favour. The petitioner stated that as the government was reluctant to follow the orders of the tribunal, therefore he filed a petition before the high court.

He added that in 2001 his petition  was accepted and directives were issued to  the provincial government.

Mr Ashraf stated that he had still been waiting for his promotion. Moreover, he added that he was suspended by the government on the ground why he had moved the high court against the government.