Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday warned the Registrar of the Pakistan Nursing Council of possible contempt proceedings over repeated non-compliance with court notices and failure to appear despite summons.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the warning while hearing a petition filed by council employees, including Muhammad Fayaz, challenging orders barring them from entering the council’s office.
The registrar appeared before the court after being summoned. Expressing displeasure, Justice Tahir remarked that despite repeated notices and summons, no one from the council had appeared before the court.
“The court summons you, yet you do not appear. We had to send the SHO to secure your appearance. Why should contempt proceedings not be initiated against you?” the judge observed.
The court further questioned why the registrar had failed to respond to the notices.
The registrar told the court that she had not been aware of the notices and appeared as soon as she came to know about them. She added that the petitioners were daily-wage employees whose entry into the office had been barred before she assumed office.
Justice Tahir observed that several cases involving the Pakistan Nursing Council were pending before the court and that the council had repeatedly ignored judicial directions. He noted that court notices were routinely returned from the council’s gate without being accepted.
The judge warned that if the situation persisted, the court would be compelled to initiate contempt proceedings against the registrar.
The court directed the registrar to submit para-wise comments before the next hearing and instructed the council to also address other pending cases so they could be decided without further delay. The hearing was subsequently adjourned.