PESHAWAR, May 9: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday adjourned hearing of a writ petition filed by Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Sitara Ayaz seeking cancellation of an order of the subordinate court about registration of an FIR against her for allegedly keeping a female social welfare officer in illegal confinement by registering a fabricated case against her.
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Miftauddin Khan was requested by the officer, Tahira Naveed, to decide the case on merit as she was not interested in any rapprochement with the minister.
During previous hearing on Feb 16 the court had directed the counsel of the minister, Arshad Ali, for making rapprochement with the officer. The bench had observed that the best way to resolve the issue was that the minister should extend a hand and gesture of goodwill to the officer.
The chief justice observed on Wednesday that it did not look nice that two women had been fighting with each other.
Ms Naveed informed the court that she would never forgive the minister as because of her she had passed through physical and mental anguish and pain. She said that she wanted that FIR should be registered against her following which she would approach the Election Commission of Pakistan for disqualifying her.
Mr Ali contended that he was ready to argue the case on merit. He added that there was no controversy left between the petitioner and Ms Naveed but the latter had been dragging the issue without any reason.
He argued that the minister had done nothing wrong as she had only filed a complaint with the police about receiving anonymous messages and the complaint was further investigated by police.
Ms Naveed said that the minister had tried her level best to inflict harm on her and she had still been under suspension. She added that while the court had issued the directives to the minister in Feb so far she was not approached by anyone on behalf of the minister.
The minister has filed the petition requesting the high court for quashing an order of the court of additional district and sessions judge whereby an application of Ms Naveed was accepted and orders were issued on Dec 19, 2011, for registration of an FIR against the minister and two police officials, the then SHO of East Cantt police station Shaukat Ali and investigation officer Ashiq Mir Khan.
The judge had directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inspector general of police, the capital city police chief and the senior superintendent of police (investigation) Peshawar to register the said FIR.