LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday stayed termination of 94 daily-waged security guards of Services Hospital and sought a reply from the Punjab health secretary.

The security guards contended in their petitions that they had been working on daily wages for the last seven years but the authorities didnotregularise theirservices.

They said the hospital administration started fresh appointments of security guards on political grounds and terminating them. Petitioners said the action of the administration was in violation of their fundamental rights and judgments of the Supreme Court as well. They asked the court to set aside their termination.

Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh stayed their termination and directed the health secretary to submit his reply by Oct 20.

DIRECTIVE: The Lahore High Court Complaint Cell on Friday took notice on an application of a woman against Hafizabad police for not arresting the kidnappers of her young girl. The cell directed the district police officer to submit a detailed report of the matter within 10 days.

Shagufta Bibi, of Pindi Bhattian, submitted in her application that the police were sheltering the culprits and pressurising her to not pursue the case. She said the suspects forcefully contracted marriage with her daughter and one day her daughter reached home by getting a chance to escape. The applicant produced the girl before the magistrate concerned where she stated that the culprits abducted and molested her after forced `nikah`