PHC asks govt not to act against economic zone company's CEO.

PESHAWAR -- The Peshawar High Court on Thursday stopped the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government from acting against the chief executive officer of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company until further orders.

A bench consisting of Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim issued notices to the respondents, including the chief secretary and industries minister and secretary, seeking their response to a petition filed by EZDMC CEO Javed Iqbal Khattak, who has challenged a summary moved for approval of the provincial cabinet to 'review and suspend' the petitioner's re-appointment last year.

The bench fixed Mar 28 for next hearing with the direction that till then no adverse action should be taken against the petitioner on the basis of the impugned summary.

The petitioner requested the court to declare as illegal the act of the caretaker industries minister (respondent No 2) to place an agenda item in the caretaker cabinet meeting to 'review and suspend' the re-appointment of the EZDMC CEO.

Khattak challenged summary against his re-appointment

The petitioner requested to restrain from taking any steps against the CEO as he had once been reappointed through a proper channel last year for a period of three years with effect from March 18, 2023, to March 19, 2026.

Former advocate general Shumail Ahmad Butt appeared for the petitioner and said initially, the petitioner was appointed the CEO and the decision was approved by the provincial cabinet and a notification in this regard was issued by the industries department on March 18, 2020.

He contended that keeping in view his outstanding performance the BoD in its meeting held on Aug 17, 2022, recommended for the extension of the term of the CEO for further three years with effect from March 20, 2023 to March 19, 2026.

He added that the then provincial cabinet on Dec 13, 2022 approved the proposed summary for the extension and thus re-appointed the petitioner as CEO for a period of three years.

When the bench inquired what was the urgency of his...