Demanding transparency: PHC stays dissolution of SDA

Court restrains government from selling property of the authority.

PESHAWAR: A division bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) stayed the dissolution of the Sarhad Development Authority (SDA) and restrained the provincial government from handing over its assets to a private company.

The stay order was issued by the bench comprising Justice Younis Taheem and Justice Nisar Hussain after petitioners—SDA Employees Federation’s President Ismail Khalil and others—claimed the K-P government was selling property worth billions without any transparency.

The petitioners’ attorney Mian Mohibullah Kakakhel argued the provincial government was bent upon illegally handing over the property of SDA. The property is located in the industrial estates of Gadoon Amazai, Peshawar, DI Khan, Bannu, Nowshera, Ghazi, Risalpur, Motorway-I, Mansehra, Hattar Phase-VII and special economic zones in Karak and Kohat.

Kakakhel argued the Supreme Court of Pakistan, in its judgment on March 25, 2015, ordered the provincial government to define rules and regulations for SDA employees within three months. However, he informed the bench, the administration decided to dissolve the body which was a violation of the apex court’s orders.

Kakakhel contended assets were being handed over to a private entity named K-P Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC). He said for the formation of the company, a summary was moved to the CM on March 13, 2015, which was hurriedly approved on March 17. MNA Sajid Zulfiqar, a relative of the chief minister, was reportedly nominated as the chairperson. Showing a notification in court, Kakakhel said the provincial government also paid Rs500 million out of Rs1 billion to KPEZDMC as authorised working capital. He pointed out 423 acres of valuable commercial property situated in Hattar Industrial Estate was given to it.

“Property, worth billions, is being handed over without any checks.” Kakakhel said there was no guarantee KPEZDM would not sell the public property. He said the case may also be referred to NAB.

The petitioners’ counsel said that dissolution of SDA was an illegal and unlawful step.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th,  2015.