LAHORE, Feb 9: The Lahore High Court on Thursday summoned the Punjab chief secretary after an inquiry report about embezzlement in the health department revealed hatred against the judiciary.

Punjab Energy Secretary Rab Nawaz conducted the inquiry and complained to the chief minister about ‘unnecessary interference’ by the judiciary in the government affairs.

In his report dated Nov 30, 2011, the secretary appealed to the chief minister to take notice of the matter and ensure independence of the executive/bureaucracy, what he alleged, eroded by the judiciary.

The secretary said stay orders against the acts of the government were a major hurdle in smooth functioning of the executive’s affairs. In the report, he also referred to the instant case wherein the Khanewal EDO obtained a stay order from the high court against his transfer and also from services tribunal.

This inquiry report was submitted by a head clerk of Khanewal district health department, Umar Hayat, who challenged its findings against him. The petitioner pleaded that the government ordered an inquiry into embezzlement charges against the Khanewal EDO and others. But, he said, the inquiry officer, Rab Nawaz, also implicated him (petitioner) in the case and recommended stern action against him.

The petitioner’s counsel read the report aloud in the court and urged Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan to also take action against the energy secretary for undermining the judiciary.

Justice Khan also expressed displeasure at the remarks of the bureaucrat and immediately summoned both energy and health secretaries.

However, Deputy Secretary Shahid Adil appeared and informed the court that both secretaries were busy in some important meetings in Islamabad.

The judge summoned Chief Secretary Nasir Mahmood Khosa on Feb 14 and also issued show cause notices to health and energy secretaries. The chief minister could also be summoned if and whenever the court felt necessary, the judge remarked.