Supreme Court lashes out at revenue department officials for issuing fake domiciles in Karachi

Reserves verdict on students' petition alleging admissions at SBMC, Lyari were offered on fake domiciles

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) reserved on Friday the verdict on pleas, filed by students, Halim Khan and Saddam Hussain, pertaining to admissions in Shaheed Benazir Medical College (SBMC) Lyari, allegedly on the basis of fake domiciles. A two-member bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah heard the case at the SC Karachi Registry.

The students and Malir and West district authorities appeared before the court.

"Officials of the Sindh government are responsible for issuing fake domiciles. What are district commissioners doing with regards to fake domiciles?" remarked Justice Shah.

Petitioner Halim Khan said that he gained admission in 2013 and his was the second name on the merit list. He maintained that other students were granted admission on the basis of fake domiciles. It was found during the inquiry that most of the domiciles were fake, he added.

"A student's life has been ruined and nobody cares. Sindh government is responsible for the student's future being destroyed," remarked Justice Shah. Lashing out at the provincial government, he added, "What are Sindh government officials doing? How could the deputy commissioner say that the domicile could not be made?"

Saddam's father told the court that his son had a domicile of Malir district but it was cancelled later as the Sindh revenue department said that he fell under the jurisdiction of West district. "We applied for admission again the next year with the domicile of West district, but that was not accepted either," he said.

The additional advocate general said that the domicile of West district was not accepted because Saddam's father's domicile was of Dadu.

"Those living in Karachi all their lives have the right to have Karachi's domicile," remarked Justice Shah.

"Revenue department officials are responsible for issuing fake domiciles," remarked Justice Mushir, adding that such officers should be removed from their posts.

After hearing the arguments, the bench reserved the verdict and adjourned hearing.

Plea bargain

Another two-member bench, comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Faisal Arab concluded the plea bargain filed by Mir Ali Nawaz Khan, nominated in a corruption reference pertaining to government funds in Garhi Khairo. The counsel for the accused maintained that the petition seeking a plea bargain was submitted before the National Accountability Bureau chairperson but was rejected without any reason. "We are willing to submit the plea bargain. Pleasue issue directives for it to be accepted," he prayed to the court.

The court asked the NAB prosecutor whether NAB clearly indicates the process through which a plea bargain can be filed. The prosecutor informed the court that NAB Sukkur has said the petitioner's plea bargain is being accepted.

"Tell the rules through which a plea bargain can be filed. Or does it work on whim; plea bargain given to whom you wish, denied to whom you wish?" remarked Justice Baqar.

The court directed NAB chairperson to personally act on the plea bargain according to the law. The court concluded the hearing on the plea after the NAB prosecutor's statement.

According to NAB, Khan and others are accused of committing corruption in government funds in Garhi Khairo.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2019.