960423

Contempt notice

to PS chairman

for violation of

NIRC orders

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Chairman, National Industrial Relations Commission has issued a contempt of court notice to the acting Chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation for violating the commission's orders.

The notice was issued by the NIRC chairman, Rana Shaukat Mehmood on an application filed by Pakistan Steel Officers Association (PASOA) through their counsel Qureshi Muhammad Hafeez. The application was moved by PASOA against acting Chairman of the PS, Usman Faruqi, for violating the stay order issued against the termination of six officers.

Earlier, the PASOA had filed an application and the Chairman NIRC while giving immediate relief had suspended the termination order for Lt-Col. (Retd.) Muhammad Afzal Khan, Abu Saleh, I.J. Abbasi, W.D. Siddiqui, Sajid Ali Khan, Abdul Ghani, and transfer order of Abdul Sattar Butt.

The counsel argued that these orders were issued without any lawful authority.

The learned court directed the respondents to restore the domestic utilities which had been disconnected unilaterally after issuing these orders.

The NIRC had granted suspension orders and directed the respondents not to proceed against the petitioners in any manner amounting to unfair labour practice.

The application has been admitted by Chairman NIRC and notice has been issued to the respondents. The case will come up for hearing on May 19, 1996 and Director (Administration & Personnel) and General Manager (Security) have been directed to appear in person on the next date of hearing to explain their conduct. In the meanwhile, the suspension order dated April 15, 1996 against Shaukat Hussain Afridi, an office-bearer of PASOA, has been suspended till the disposal of the petition.