LAHORE, Aug 6: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Monday issued notices to Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah, secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Azam Samma and others on a contempt of court petition.

A private tour operator filed the petition and submitted through his counsel that the court had directed the ministry to allocate quota of 5,000 pilgrims among newly-registered tour operators, but it ignored the directions.

He said the ministry with a mala fide intention allocated quota among previously-registered operators only.

Petitioner’s counsel Azhar Siddique argued that federal minister Khurshid Shah had also made a public statement saying the quota could not be allocated to new tour operators as old organisers had completed homework despite their ineligibility.

He said ministry’s secretary Samma had also made a similar statement. By doing so, they had committed contempt of court and might be tried and punished under contempt of court law, Advocate Siddique added and sought contempt proceedings against the respondents.

The CJ heard the arguments and sought replies from the respondents by Aug 15.

Bail extended: An additional district and sessions judge on Monday extended interim bail of three doctors allegedly involved in the murder case of infant Fahad Husain during their strike.

The police inquiry officer told the court that investigation was under process and would be completed soon. He sought more time from the court and the judge extended bail of the doctors till Aug 9.

Muhammad Afzal, the father of deceased child, got registered an FIR against eight doctors with the Gawalmandi police station. He alleged the doctors intentionally removed the drip from the vein of his child which caused his death. Police later arrested four accused doctors.