Government put on notice on petition against Sind Universities Amendment Act

SHC seeks report on case pertaining to open market sale of fuel meant for armed forces

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has sought reply from the provincial government and others on a petition challenging the Sindh Universities Amendment Bill 2018.

A two-member bench heard the petition on Thursday after objections were removed from it. The petitioners requested the SHC to declare the universities act null and void. They nominated the chief minister, chief secretary, governor and Sindh Assembly.

According to the petition, the law was passed with mala fide intent and it would close doors of education to students of urban areas of the province. The petitioners also claimed that after the passage of the act, universities were no longer independent institutions as government representatives would occupy eight to ten seats in their syndicates. The petitioners expressed their apprehension that higher education in the province would suffer if the law was not annulled.

The SHC directed the respondents to submit detailed reply by September 5.



Defence fuel case

Hearing bail petitions on Thursday, the SHC gave time to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) till September 18 to present the progress report on a case pertaining to open market sale of fuel for defence institutions.

The bail petitions were filed by Zeeshan Karimi, Mazahir Hussain and others who have been booked in a Rs2.37 billion corruption scam. A two-member bench heard the plea.

A NAB prosecutor informed the court that a draft reference had been sent to the NAB chairperson for approval. The prosecutor added that the SHC would be informed when the draft is approved.

According to NAB, Shell company entered into a contract for oil supply with a non-registered company operated by the suspects. The oil was supposed to be supplied to armed forces. However, only 3% of the 1.3 million litres of jet fuel was supplied to them and 97% was sold in the open market, causing a loss of Rs2.37 billion to the national exchequer.



NICL corruption case

The Sindh High Court extended interim bail of suspects in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) corruption reference till October 17.

A two-member bench heard bail plea of Amin Qasim and others. A NAB official informed the court that the Supreme Court had directed the accountability court concerned to resolve the matter within two months.

The suspects have been accused of selling 10 acres of land of the NICL at throwaway rates, causing loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.