Peshawar (HRNW)- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has expressed strong displeasure over the Inspector General (IG) of Police submitting an affidavit before the Islamabad High Court in the PTI protest case without obtaining approval from the Advocate General’s Office or informing the provincial government.
Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam described the move as an act of professional irresponsibility and said the federal government could be approached to seek action over the matter.
The Chief Secretary and IG Police had submitted affidavits in the Islamabad High Court in connection with the sit-in case. However, the provincial government later learned that the required approval had not been obtained before the affidavits were filed.
Aftab Alam questioned the Islamabad High Court’s jurisdiction over a petition concerning a march in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, arguing that the province does not fall within the court’s territorial jurisdiction and that provincial officers should not be summoned by it in such circumstances.
He said the Advocate General, as the province’s chief law officer, is normally required to approve affidavits submitted by provincial departments before they are presented in court. According to the minister, the Advocate General confirmed that the IG had not sought such approval.
The minister said the contents of the affidavit therefore remain unknown to the provincial government. He argued that provincial officers should remain accountable to the provincial government, with the Chief Minister and cabinet empowered to seek explanations over their conduct.
Aftab Alam said the Chief Minister could be advised to take up the issue with the federal government and seek appropriate action regarding what he termed professional irresponsibility.
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