Contempt case: IHC orders PMDC registrar to resume work

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered Hafeezur Rahman to resume work as registrar of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). Hearing the contempt of court case, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani ordered the Health Department to remove security. “The Health secretary has several tasks to do and corona is another issue,” he remarked. The court warned that they were ordering for the last time and the order would be passed in another way next time. “No staffer will visit the PMDC,” it warned. The Health secretary requested the court to court to give them sometime as they want to shift the record. However, the court declined the request. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked that the registrar would give the report about the work done daily to the Health secretary. On Monday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had summoned the Health secretary for a delay in the restoration of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). On March 30, the IHC has ordered federal government to immediately restore the PMDC. Justice Mohsin Kiyani, hearing the contempt of court petition, had remarked that government’s action is equivalent to slapping the court in the face. Justice Kiyani showing resentment over non-appearance of the health secretary in the court remarked that government’s action is equivalent slapping court in the face. While hearing the case, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani remarked that he is sentencing Secretary Health to 6 months in prison. Last month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had declared dissolution of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) by a presidential ordinance as ‘null and void’. IHC Judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani had announced the reserved verdict in the PMDC dissolution case. The high court also declared the establishment of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) as illegal and unlawful.