SHC orders Sindh govt to set up digital library

Karachi Gymkhana receives permission for construction on its premises

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) gave the order on Wednesday for a digital library to be set up in the province while hearing a plea pertaining to the establishment of electronic libraries in Sindh.

A single bench, comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, directed the deputy commissioners of all 14 districts to submit reports regarding the use of library funds and summoned libraries director-general and culture department secretary in a personal capacity at the next hearing.

A report about the finance department and technical education has been presented before the court, which stated that while there were only 21 libraries operational under the culture department, enough staff for 175 libraries was present.

The report added that the funds were issued for all the libraries, but none of them were used for the purpose.

The court sought a report regarding the current situation of libraries in Sindh within 10 days, warning the relevant authorities of contempt proceedings otherwise.

The court also summoned the Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority managing director, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skill Development Khairpur vice-chancellor and registrar at the next hearing.

Moreover, the court directed the authorities concerned to immediately issue the funds for Shamsul Ulma Daud Pota Library and submit a quarterly report regarding the Sindhiana Encyclopedia.

Further, the court also sought a report about the removal of the names of famous personalities from the roads, parks and libraries and directed to restore them.

The court further directed the Sindh chief secretary and relevant authorities to reserve funds for the establishment of electronic libraries in the budget of the current fiscal year.

The hearing was adjourned till August 10.

Construction at gymkhana

The SHC also permitted on Wednesday Karachi Gymkhana's (KG) administration to carry out construction inside its premises while hearing a contempt of court plea against Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other relevant authorities.

Shallwani and other parties submitted their reply over the contempt of court plea, maintaining that the gymkhana building was part of the city's cultural heritage, which is why the Supreme Court had restricted new construction on its premises. They added that the KG administration wanted to construct a parking lot in its tennis court.

The petitioner's counsel, though, claimed that KG did not come under the banner of cultural heritage and could not be considered a heritage building through the issuance of a single letter. He maintained that a gazetted letter needed to be issued for KG's inclusion among the heritage buildings.

He further claimed that Shallwani and the SBCA did not have the authority to restrict construction in a private building, adding that SBCA was not bothered by hundreds of illegal constructions in the city.

"Where was the SBCA when dozens of people died in the Lyari building collapse?" he questioned.

The court permitted the KG administration to continue construction and adjourned the hearing till July 15, while issuing bailable arrest warrants for Sindh Antiquities and Archaeology Department director-general Manzoor Kanasro and the Civil Lines SHO.

Verdict annulled

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Abdul Mobin Lakho, accepted two convicts' appeal against the death sentences awarded to them in a murder case.

The petitioners' counsel claimed the eyewitness presented by the police in court was a special agent of the police who was made a witness in three other cases as well, adding that his statement was based on mala-fide intentions.

The court annulled the verdict given by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) to the convicts, Amir Khan alias Totla and Masood Ansari.

The ATC had sentenced the two accused to death in January 2010 for allegedly murdering a shopkeeper in Shah Faisal Colony.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2020.