Court seeks records of gas reservoirs in Sindh

Petitioner argues people inconvenienced by outages, fluctuating gas pressure

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court sought details regarding gas reservoirs in Sindh on Friday from the petitioner in a case pertaining to the recent gas crisis. A two-member bench comprising Justice Abdul Maalik Gaddi and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan was hearing the petition filed by social activist Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi.

The petitioner informed the court that several areas of the metropolis were facing gas outages. He argued that Sindh has been deprived of gas despite having natural gas reservoirs in the province. The petitioner maintained that citizens of the province are inconvenienced by the fluctuating gas pressure.

Justice Gaddi remarked that there were gas outages in his residential area as well. "Inform the court about the areas of the province which are producing natural gas," he said.

The bench remarked that the case will only proceed if the names of those areas and the details of gas production are provided to the court. The bench observed that the provision of this information was essential as both the federal and provincial governments have been nominated as parties in the case.

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The hearing was adjourned till January 14.

‘Illegal occupation’

Meanwhile, the bench issued notices to Central district deputy commissioner, SSP and Mukhtiarkar, and other parties, while hearing the plea filed by Musarrat Shaheen against land mafia.

The petitioner's counsel told the court that workers of the land mafia had beaten his client. He added that his client is a widow with children and the accused want to illegally occupy her house. The counsel maintained that the accused have the patronage of the police and work for an MPA. They beat up Musarrat and her children in Orangi Town in the presence of police officials, he said, praying the court to provide security to the petitioner and her family.

The court issued notices to the parties, directing them to submit their replies and appear before the court on January 15.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2020.