Hoping for a helicopter: SC stops Sindh govt from buying a Rs1.6b ride for the CM

Petitioner said the govt decided to buy the chopper even though the CM already has two

KARACHI: The Supreme Court has stopped the Sindh government from buying a new helicopter for the chief minister that costs Rs1.6 billion until December 29.

A full bench of the apex court Karachi registry, headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, also issued notices to the government with directions to file their replies on the procurement by the next hearing.

The restraining order came on a petition filed by civil rights campaigner Syed Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi. He had taken Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, the chief secretary and the finance authorities to the apex court over the procurement of the chopper.



The petitioner said the government has decided to buy a new helicopter for the chief minister at a cost of Rs1.6 billion despite the fact that there are already two helicopters available. He claimed that the finance department has prepared a summary for the procurement, which is being made in violation of the international tender. "Children are dying in the drought-hit region of Tharparkar," Naqvi told the three judges. "But the government is spending huge amounts on the helicopter."

The three judges issued notices to CM Shah, the chief secretary, finance and other authorities with directions to file their replies by December 29.

"In the meantime, no further steps be taken regarding the purchase of the helicopter and in this regard status quo to be maintained," ordered the head of the bench, Justice Jamali.

APCs procurement

The same bench also directed the additional advocate general (AAG) to submit the original summaries and correspondence on the proposed deal of the Sindh government with the Serbian company for the procurement of armoured personnel carriers.

On Friday, Amer Ahmed Khan, the general manager of Heavy Industries Taxila, and his office in-charge, Naveed Anwar, appeared on court's notice. The officials said an APC of B-7 or more advanced levels can be produced and supplied by them to the Sindh police. The bench directed AAG Meeran Muhammad Shah to supply the specifications of the APCs proposed to be purchased from Serbia to officials of Heavy Industries.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2014.