ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued notice to the secretary Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) on a petition filed by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Registrar (PMDC) retired Brigadier Hafizuddin Siddiqui and other employees of the council for sealing their offices.

On October 19, 2019, President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated an ordinance which left the PMDC dissolved and paved the way for establishment of the PMC.

Subsequently, the ministry of NHS sealed the building of the PMDC and informed its 220 employees that their services had been terminated.

However, on Feb 11, IHC declared the presidential ordinance as ultra vires to the constitution and restored PMDC and the services of the employees.

The ministry on Feb 13 issued the direction for sealing the offices of the PMDC as a result the reinstated employees were not allowed to enter the offices.

On Friday, advocate Abdul Rahim Bhatti, counsel for registrar and other PMDC’s officials brought these facts to the knowledge of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah.

IHC Chief Justice issued notice to the secretary NHS and sought his reply by Feb 19.

The case has also been fixed before IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani who authored the PMDC’s judgment.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2020