Pakistan Views

The Supreme Court on Wednesday recalled its order of October 1, 2007 to suspend senior officials of Islamabad administration for using force against journalists, lawyers and members of civil society on September 29 before the Election Commission building.

It may be recalled that chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had taken suo motu notice of happenings of September 29 - the day ECP scrutinised nomination papers of the Presidential candidates. The court had found Islamabad Inspector General of Police Marwat Ali Shah, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali and SSP Nadeem responsible for excessive use of force and ordered their suspension.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar heard the appeal of these officers here on Wednesday. Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum submitted that if the departmental inquiry against a suspended government official was not completed within two months, the suspension order becomes ineffective.

He said that no departmental inquiry had been conducted against these officers during the past three months and the fact-finding committee had also not given its findings. Qayyum said that the government wanted to reinstate these officials but due to the court orders it could not do so.

The court recalled its order of October 1, 2007 and referred the matter of suspension to the department concerned to settle the issue. Deputy Attorney General Nahida Mahboob Elahi, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, advocate, counsel for the suspended police officials also appeared before the court.