ISLAMABAD, Jan 21: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued notices to two federal ministers and a number of government functionaries in a contempt of court petition for not regularising the services of contractual employees despite court orders.

Taking up the contempt petition filed by 31 employees of the ministries of commerce, education and training, Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan issued notices to federal minister for education and training Sheikh Waqas Akram, chairman cabinet sub-committee for regularisation Syed Khurshid Shah, secretary cabinet division Nargis Sethi, secretary commerce Munir Qureshi, secretary establishment division Taimur Azmat Usman and secretary finance Wajid Rana.

The petitioners, 12 officials from the ministry of commerce and 19 from the ministry of education and training — said on October 9, 2012, then IHC judge Justice Mohammad Azim Khan Afridi had directed the government officials to regularise their services.

However, after the passage of more than three months the court directive has not been implemented, they added.

Umair Baloch, the counsel for the petitioners, told the court that the Islamabad High Court bench had directed the government to regularise the services of these officials within three months.

He said the government had already formulated a policy to regularise the contractual employees.

The counsel requested the court to initiate criminal proceedings against the respondents for not implementing the court order.

After issuing the notices, the judge adjourned the matter till a date to be fixed by the registrar office.