LHC refuses contempt proceedings against chief secretary

The Lahore High Court dismissed a petition against Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman on Wednesday, ruling that there was no case of contempt of court against him. The petition was filed by Amna Malik, who claimed that Zaman had contemptuously failed to appoint a chairperson for the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum presided over the hearing of the case.

Amna Malik's counsel argued that the court had previously instructed the government to name the chairperson within 45 days, and that Zaman had given the petitioner a chance to present her argument. The chief justice noted that a proper procedure existed for appointing the chairperson of the commission, and advised that the process should be allowed to continue.

She emphasized that the commission's effective functioning was critical for promoting and safeguarding women's rights, as outlined in the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2014.

Despite repeated advertisements for the appointment, the position of chairperson had remained vacant since 2019, causing a delay that hindered the commission's ability to fulfill its mandate. However, after reviewing the details, the chief justice concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations of contempt against the chief secretary at this point in time.