LAHORE – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday sought replies from federal and provincial governments on an application to make the government a party in the case challenging removal of Raymond Davis’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) without obtaining consent of LHC that had earlier ordered it. The application was moved by the petitioner’s counsel Barrister Iqbal Jaffree in a pending matter against Davis’ release. Jaffree requested the court to seek explanation from Federal Minister for Law Dr Babar Awan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, AD&SJ Muhammad Yousaf Aujla and others for allowing Davis to leave the country despite LHC’s restraining orders.
The court adjourned the matter until April 8 directing law officers of the federal government and provincial government to get instructions from the concerned quarters and file a reply until next hearing.
The court was requested that the government should be made a party in the case to determine who was responsible for setting aside lawful procedure regarding removal of USA citizen’s name from ECL and helping him flee the country just minutes after his acquittal by the trial court after the Diyat deal with legal heirs of the deceased.
The petitioner submitted that LHC had directed to include Davis’ name in ECL and a law officer assured it to the court and the ministry concerned that the same had been implemented. He submitted that on Davis’s release, the LHC’s order was in place as the court had not suspended or withdrawn its order. He contended that in violation of the court orders, Davis was allowed to leave the country. Punjab CM claimed that he was not aware of all this development.
The petitioner prayed the court to seek statement on oath from Dr Babar Awan, Punajb CM, Federal Secretary Law Pir Masood Chishti, AD&SJ Aujla, Zahid Hussain Bukhari, Raja Irshad and others to know the reality in this regard after making them proper parties in the case. Hearing of petition seeking 50 percent hike in salaries adjourned:The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday adjourned until April 18, the hearing of a petition accusing the Punjab government of not implementing the 50 percent increase in the basic salaries of LHC employees. Punjab Additional Finance Secretary Asim Imdad appeared in court and sought time to file the reply. Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed was hearing a petition filed by LHC Additional Registrar Riaz Ali Zaidi submitting that basic salaries of all government employees were increased by 50 percent in the federal budget 2010-11. He submitted that on the prime minister’s orders, the Federal Law Ministry had issued a notification in this regard.
The petitioner pointed out that all other provinces except Punjab had implemented the decision and employees of the Sindh High Court, Peshawar High Court, Balochistan High Court and the Islamabad High Court were given the 50 percent increase in their basic salaries. Zaidi submitted that the Punjab government did not implement the decision despite repeated reminders.
