PHC issues contempt notice to federal petroleum secy.

PESHAWAR -- A Peshawar High Court bench has issued show cause notices to the federal petroleum and natural resources secretary and two officials of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited seeking their response to a contempt petition filed by an MPA against the noncompliance with a court order for the successful execution of a gas project in the provincial assembly's constituency, PK-55, Mardan.

Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Ahmad Ali ordered the respondents, including the petroleum secretary and SNGPL general manager (sales) and its regional general manager to respond to the petition and show cause why contempt proceedings shouldn't be initiated against them.

The bench issued the order during the hearing into the petition of MPA Jamshed Khan Mohmand, who said the government had violated the court's order issued on May 16 by not completing the gas project.

Petitioner insists govt violated court's order by not completing PK-55 gas project

Mohammad Ali, lawyer for the petitioner, contended that the court had issued directives to the federal government to arrange funds within a month for the completion of the PK-55 Mardan gas project but despite the passage of five months, the order hadn't been complied with.

He contended that the petitioner belonged to the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, so the PTI government had withheld funds for the project.

The lawyer pointed out that the high court in its judgment had issued directions to the secretary for the energy ministry (petroleum division) to do the needful for the provision of funds for the SNGPL within a month.

He said the constituency in question comprised various localities and villages of Mardan that were denied the basic facility of natural gas to the misery of residents though the...