PESHAWAR: A civil court here on Monday restrained Bishop of Peshawar Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters from convening a meeting of the Executive Council and issued notices to him and 12 other respondents.
Civil Judge Sadia Ibrahim granted the temporary injunction in favour of Stephen Khokhar, a member of the Diocese’s Executive and Synod, who had approached the court challenging the bishop’s authority to call the meeting.
The court also summoned all respondents in their personal capacity.
During proceedings, Khokhar’s counsel argued that Bishop Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters had already completed his constitutional term and had obtained two extensions previously.
The counsel claimed that the bishop’s membership in the Synod and the Diocesan Executive had been suspended on constitutional grounds, and alleged that the bishop was attempting to make decisions according to his personal preferences despite growing opposition within the Church.
The petitioner contended that the bishop had “lost his constitutional status” and, therefore, had no authority to convene the Executive Council meeting.
