PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has expressed serious displeasure with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the filing of an affidavit in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a case related to the PTI protest without obtaining approval from the provincial government.
According to an Express News report, Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam termed the submission of the affidavit without approval from the Advocate General’s Office or bringing the matter to the notice of the provincial chief executive as “professional irresponsibility.”
He said the provincial government could approach the federal government for action over what he described as irresponsible conduct.
The controversy emerged after the Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police submitted affidavits before the Islamabad High Court in connection with the protest and sit-in case. According to the provincial government, approval for the affidavit had not been sought from the relevant authorities in KP.
Talking to reporters, Aftab Alam questioned the jurisdiction of the Islamabad High Court in the matter, saying that a petition concerning a march in Islamabad could not bring the KP government or its officers within the court’s jurisdiction.
He said the affidavits had been sought from the Chief Secretary and IGP, but the IGP’s affidavit was submitted without approval from the provincial government.
“The Advocate General is our chief law officer, and his approval was not obtained,” the minister said, adding that any affidavit submitted by a provincial department before a court should go through the Advocate General’s Office.
The minister said the Advocate General had confirmed that his office had not approved the affidavit submitted by the IGP. As a result, he said, the provincial government was not aware of the contents of the affidavit.
Aftab Alam said it was unfortunate that a distinction had developed between officers serving the province and those considered employees of the federal government.
He argued that an officer working in the province should ultimately be accountable to the provincial government, adding that the Chief Executive and provincial cabinet should have the authority to seek an explanation from such officials.
“Submitting an affidavit on such an important matter without the provincial government’s permission amounts to professional irresponsibility,” the law minister said.
He added that Chief Minister could also be briefed on the matter and that the provincial government might approach the federal government for appropriate action over the alleged professional negligence.
