SHC grants time to petitioner in plea for Bilawal's disqualification

Court issues notice on plea against corruption in local govt departments

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) granted more time to a petitioner to present arguments in support of a plea challenging the candidature of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

A two-member bench held the hearing for the plea against Bilawal on Monday. The petitioner maintained that the nomination papers filed by Bilawal were objected upon by the returning officer.

"The documents submitted to the returning officer were incomplete," the petition stated. "Bilawal has only submitted a copy of his passport while failing to submit property documents, including gift deeds. The candidate has also not submitted any details of property held abroad, hence, time should be given so that the documents are received," it read.



Therefore, the bench gave time to present more arguments in support of the petition. The hearing was adjourned until August 15.

Corruption in local government

Meanwhile, the SHC issued notices to the respondents for July 31 on a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda regarding the local government's misappropriation of funds worth billions of rupees.

The hearing of the petition filed against Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar was heard by a two-member bench.

It was argued that Akhtar was given funds worth billions of rupees for the development of the city in the past 20 months, but the city's condition had not changed. It was alleged that the worst form of corruption was under way in every local government department and financial misappropriations were taking place.

The court was requested to direct the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate the alleged financial misappropriations and for Akhtar to be declared not to be 'Sadiq and Ameen' any longer.



The court was also requested to order an audit of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation funds and to freeze all funds till the audit is completed.

Issuing notices to the respondents, the bench ordered them to submit a written reply by July 31.

Speaking to the media after the hearing, Vawda said he has given a corruption case involving billions of rupees to the NAB. He alleged that Akhtar was still the mayor despite the corruption he carried out. He accused the Sindh government of colluding with the mayor.

Provision of security to Faisal Vawda

In a separate case, the SHC bench issued notice to the advocate-general for July 19 in relation to providing security to Vawda.

Vawda's lawyer argued that his client is contesting elections from NA-249. He claimed that some criminal elements were Vawda's opponents and since his client had raised his voice against crime and corruption, he had reservations about his security.

The PTI has written a letter to the relevant officials.



The court was requested to provide security to Vawda till the elections.

After hearing arguments, the bench directed the Sindh IG to ensure the security and safe movement of the petitioner and issued a notice to the advocate-general for July 19.

Jibran Nasir granted time

In another case, the court granted lawyer Jibran Nasir time to tender an explanation in a petition filed against him. The petition maintains that Nasir incited people against national institutions in a protest outside the court. The civil rights activist, who was present before a two-member bench of the SHC on Monday, maintained that he was in receipt of a court notice and that he needed time to submit his reply. The bench advised Nasir, the election commission and other authorities to file their comments by the next hearing on July 23.

The petitioner's counsel was not present during the proceeding. He was represented by a junior lawyer, who told the bench that the petitioner's counsel could not show up due to poor health.



The petition stated that Nasir led a maligning protest outside the court on June 24. "He [Nasir] incited the people against national institutions and made them chant anti-state slogans," it stated, demanding the court and election commission to disqualify him from contesting general elections.

Nasir is contesting on both national and provincial assembly seats as an independent candidate.