ISLAMABAD, July 25: A contempt of court petition has been filed in the Supreme Court (SC) against top government officers for delaying implementation of its order of facilitating students of Jamia Hafsa so that they could continue education in Jamia Faridia.

The contempt petition has been filed by Advocate M. Tariq Asad on behalf of Dr Akmal Saleemi under Article 204 of the Constitution (contempt of the court).

Interior Secretary Kamal Shah, Chief Commissioner Islamabad Hamid Ali Khan and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Kamran Lashari are respondents in the petition.

Jamia Hafsa was razed after the Lal Masjid standoff between the government and the mosque management that began on January 22, 2007 after the Jamia students took over the children’s library.On October 10, 2007, the Supreme Court had passed an interim order asking the government to provide a suitable place to adjust the dislocated female students of Jamia Hafsa so that they could continue their education.

In case the government could not provide such a place, then these students should be adjusted in a separate wing of Jamia Faridia so that their classes could start any day after Eidul Fitr but not later than October 30, 2007, the apex court order had stated, adding that Umme Hassan would perform the duty of principal and necessary expenditure on the education of the students such as books, meals and boarding and lodging besides salaries of the teachers would be borne by the government.

The contempt petition stated that the CDA chairman had failed to comply with the orders of this court to construct Jamia Hafsa building despite a lapse of 10 months.

It said when principal of Jamia Hafsa Umme Hassan contacted the respondents to construct the new building and make necessary alternative arrangements for the education of surviving female students, the administration paid no heed.

The principal herself arranged the funds and renovated the building for holding classes of the female students in Jamia Faridia, but the administration stopped them from conducting classes.

Despite the fact that the administration was legally obliged to follow the orders in its letter and spirit, the respondents had deliberately disobeyed the orders of the apex court thus committing contempt of court.