The Supreme Court has issued notice to Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Afzal in a contempt case for not obeying its order regarding restoration of the local government bodies in the province, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The apex court also summoned former Punjab chief secretary Jawad Rafiq in his personal capacity during the next hearing. 

A two-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmad heard the case on Friday.

The court was irked by the slothfulness of the local government secretary saying had there been any enthusiasm for work among the officeholders of the local bodies, they would have performed their duties while sitting on roads. 

The CJP asked the LG secretary to inform the court regarding any progress on the restoration of the local bodies in Punjab. He reprimanded the secretary for his inaction on the court order saying ‘have you come here for recreational purposes.’ 

The top judge expressed his bewilderment what kind of a secretary he was who did not know what were his responsibilities. He admonished him by saying: “How will he feel if the court sends him straight to jail from here?”

The counsel for the petitioner said the Supreme Court on March 25, 2021 ordered the Punjab government to restore the local bodies and the term of the LG bodies was expiring in December. 

On this, the CJP remarked that it seemed that the Punjab government wanted the local bodies to be expired without being restored. 

Chief Justice Gulzar took Lahore Mayor Mubashar Javed to task. The mayor assured the CJP that the office bearers would assume their duties tomorrow. 

The court adjourned the hearing till Oct 20. 

Reporter Amanat Gishkori