Bulletproof vehicles case: Interior ministry to submit reply today

A notification was issued directing Karachi admin to suspend Pak Armoring’s NOC

TAXILA/ ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry will submit a reply on Monday (today) in a case pertaining to a notification issued by the ministry directing the Karachi district administration to suspend the NOC and seal the premises of a company providing services of bulletproofing vehicles.

While granting stay on the notification, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) at a previous hearing had directed the interior ministry to submit a reply in the case by June 30th.

A single bench comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb will take up the case today.

On June 22, the officials of the ministry had instructed the Additional Deputy Commissioner II in Malir District of Karachi, Waseemuddin, to suspend the NOC of the company issued to it since 2012 and seal its premises.

The CEO of the Pak Armoring (Private) Ltd, Khurram Hamirani, through his counsel Malik Tahir Mehmood challenged the notification before the IHC saying the officials of the ministry were “inimical towards the petitioner’s company and due to the malafide attitude and illegal act” they issued the notification.

Apart from the officials of the interior ministry, he has made Waseemuddin, a respondent in the case.

Though the company has not yet started functioning but restriction on the use of premises has been lifted following the court orders, Mehmood said.

The petitioner’s counsel said that the government had granted permission
for armoring of the vehicles in February, 8, 2012,
and since then the company had been doing business without having a single complaint against it at any forum.

Mehmood argued before the bench that no complaint was pending before the officials, adding that neither the officials issued any show cause notice nor conducted a formal inquiry before issuing instructions to seal the company.

He added that no opportunity was provided to defend the case.

“The acts of the respondents are against the fundamental rights as well as the rights of trade and business as guaranteed by the constitution,” Mehmood stated in the petition.

He has prayed before the court to set aside the notification and direct the respondents not to seal the company.

Following the hearing, while issuing stay on the notification, the court had directed the officials of the interior ministry to submit a reply in the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2016.