Court seeks process of fixing milk rates, regulating prices

SHC dismayed at over 75,000 cases delayed in Sindh due to failure to arrest the accused nominated in them

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court sought arguments from the parties on Tuesday over the contempt of court plea filed against the sale of milk on inflated prices. A two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal was hearing the contempt of court plea filed by Imran Shehzad which stated that the court ordered to sell milk at the official rate which is Rs94 per litre but milk is being sold at higher prices in the city.

The petitioner prayed the court that contempt of court action is taken against All Karachi Milk Retailers Association. The petitioner's counsel argued that the dairy-mafia has increased milk rates according to their own will. All Karachi Milk Retailers Association's counsel maintained that the mechanism for fixing milk rates has become redundant. He argued that new laws should be made before fixing milk rates.

"We are focusing on compliance with milk rates fixed by the commissioner [right now]," remarked the bench.

The Karachi commissioner's report pertaining to milk rates was submitted before the court. The report mentioned that a fine of Rs3,366,000 has been imposed on 550 milk shops and four people have been arrested and sent to jail for violating judicial orders.

Inflation rises 11.4% on hike in food, energy prices

Assistant Commissioner Wasimuddin told the court that the official rate was fixed after consultation with all stakeholders.

The bench inquired if the spokespersons of All Karachi Milk Retailers Association were consulted while fixing the rates. Wasimuddin said that the spokespersons of the association were present at the meeting.

The court sought reply pertaining to the association's counsel's argument that the laws for fixing milk rates have become redundant. The court directed that the reply must state the law under which milk rates are fixed. The hearing was adjourned till November 5.

Delayed cases

Meanwhile, a single bench comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar directed that security be provided to the petitioner of the plea pertaining to over 75,000 cases in Sindh which haven't proceeded further as the accused nominated in them have not been arrested.

The police submitted a report before the court which stated that seeking assistance from the Pakistan Rangers to arrest the accused has been recommended. According to the police report, around 75,269 A Class cases in Sindh have been set aside.

These include over 25,000 cases pertaining to marriages in Karachi which have been made A-Class since 2009, around 4,998 murder cases, over 15,000 robbery cases and over 4,000 kidnapping cases registered in Karachi, as well as 3,016 cases registered in Hyderabad and 1,447 cases registered in Sukkur.

The court observed that despite Rangers, police and other law enforcing agencies being active in Karachi the inability to arrest the accused is worrisome because the non-arrest contributes to the increase in crimes. The court remarked that only registering cases was of no benefit as it only spreads fear among citizens when accused are not arrested despite the registration of cases against them. People consider it futile to file cases in such circumstances, said Justice Panhwar, adding that action should be taken on an urgent basis to arrest the accused on the run.

Court Assistant Ibaad Hasnain requested that assistance from the Rangers be sought to arrest the accused. He added that the Rangers be consulted on their mechanism for investigating and arresting wanted persons. He said that a report on the accused who have not been arrested should be sent to all district and sessions judges. The court assistant said that the judicial magistrate should monitor all such cases and gather the records of all A-Class cases. He added that CCTV footage should be used more efficiently to arrest the accused.

Inflation skyrockets to 68-month high at 10.3%

The court ordered the provision of security to the petitioner and his family and adjourned the hearing.

Court irked

Another bench comprising Justice Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Abdul Mobeen sought a report from jail officials and expressed annoyance at them for not submitting their reply on the alleged torture of former Fishermen Cooperative Society chairperson Nisar Morai in prison. The bench was hearing the plea filed by Morai's wife, Seema Nisar, which stated that Morai's health was in critical condition but medical facilities were not being provided to him in prison.

Jail officials did not submit their reply on the plea alleging torture and lack of medical facilities to Morai. The court gave jail officials time till the first week of December to submit a report on the issue.

Sentence annulled

Meanwhile, a two-member bench comprising Justice KK Agha and Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi accepted convict Muhammad Idrees's appeal against the sentence awarded to him in a murder case. The court annulled the sentence awarded by the trial court and acquitted Idrees in the murder case. According to police, Idrees was accused of murdering Abdullah in 2014 and finding him guilty, the trial court had sentenced him to death. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2019.