SHC issues notices to Centre

Counsel claims funds were provided to all of Karachi's MNAs except those from PPP

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Monday notices to the federal government over a plea filed against alleged discrimination in issuing development funds to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNAs.

A two-member bench was hearing the plea filed by PPP MNAs Qadir Patel, Syed Agha Rafiullah and Jam Abdul Karim Bijar, where the petitioners' counsel maintained that the federal government had issued developmental funds to 18 out 21 MNAs elected from Karachi - all those apart from the MNAs belonging to the PPP.

He moved the court to order the federal government to issue the funds to the PPP MNAs.

"When the funds were being provided to 18 MNAs, then why not to the remaining three?" inquired the court. The bench issued notices to the parties and sought written answers by June 15.

Pillion-riding ban

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Omar Sial and Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi, adjourned indefinitely the hearing of a plea seeking an exemption of the pillion-riding ban for journalists and law enforcement personnel.

The petitioner maintained that shopping malls and markets have been allowed to reopen, while pillion-riding was still banned.

He claimed that mediapersons' jobs were at stake as they could not afford rickshaw and taxi fares to commute and therefore they should be exempted from the ban.

"The whole nation is suffering due to the pandemic," remarked Justice Sial, adding that no order could be passed on the matter until the situation improved.

The court adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period of time.

Construction on amenity plot

The same bench maintained the stay order in a case pertaining to the construction of a petrol pump on an amenity plot in Orangi Town, until the next hearing.

The Sindh Building Control Authority's (SBCA) deputy legal director requested the immediate hearing of the case.

He maintained that the Orangi Township project director had written a letter on March 5 seeking the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's stance on the issue, but had not yet received a response.

Moreover, he claimed that the petitioner had submitted fake documentation for the petrol pump in court to seek a stay order.

According to him, the amenity plot was being misused for constructing a petrol pump since a no-objection certificate had not yet been issued.

He further pointed out that the Supreme Court had ordered the restoration all the amenity plots.

"By when has the Supreme Court directed to submit the report regarding the restoration of amenity plots after razing the constructions over them?" inquired Justice Sial.

The SBCA official replied that the apex court had directed them to launch an operation against illegal constructions on amenity land and submit a report in the next session.

The court maintained the stay order and adjourned the hearing till August.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2020.