Time limit: SHC orders handover of women’s hostels to ministry

Court gives Sindh govt 15 days to implement order

HYDERABAD: Working Women Hostels in Sindh, which are currently being occupied for purposes other than lodging women, will have to be vacated and handed over to the Sindh women development department. The Sindh High Court (SHC) gave 15 days on Wednesday to the Sindh government to implement the order passed by a bench comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Muhammad Iqbal Mehar.

"[The] chief secretary shall ensure that possession of Working Women Hostels of all [the] districts of Sindh have been delivered to the women development department," the order read. This order was passed on a petition filed by Zainab Chandio, who asked the court to recover her daughter, Wazeeran, from alleged detention at the Panah Shelter Home, Karachi.

Justice Panhwar asked the senior member of the Board of Revenue, Rizwan Ahmed Memon, who appeared on behalf of the chief secretary, to explain why an earlier order regarding giving back the possession had not been implemented. When Memon expressed his lack of knowledge over the matter, the judge gave 15 days for the order's implementation.

"What about the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2015? They haven't been given [any] building? No office?" Justice Panhwar questioned the senior member, who failed to satisfy the bench with his answer.

The court also expressed dismay at the absence of the secretary of the women development department and issued a show cause notice. "… Contempt of court proceedings for wilful defiance of this court's order should be initiated," said the bench.

The petitioner, meanwhile, plead that she be allowed to meet her daughter. The court ordered Panah Shelter Home to allow the meeting with permission of the petitioner's daughter.

The hearing was adjourned till December 14.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2016.