KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) indefinitely adjourned on Thursday the hearing of a contempt of court petition against the Sindh chief secretary and others for failing to make public the joint investigation team (JIT) reports about Lyari gangster Uzair Baloch, the Baldia factory fire and former Fishermen Cooperative Society chairperson Nisar Morai.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Abdul Malik Gaddi and Justice Kausar Sultana Hussain, were told by the counsel of the petitioner, Ali Zaidi, that the Sindh government’s petition against the SHC decision was being heard in the Supreme Court.
He added that the hearing on Zaidi’s petition should be adjourned until the apex court announced a verdict.
Meanwhile, the Sindh additional advocate general pointed out that the provincial government had released all three JIT reports, making Zaidi’s request pointless. At this, the court remarked that it was aware of the development. “We watch them fight on TV all day long.”
Lyari building collapse
The bench also sought a report from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other parties on a petition seeking the dismissal of a case about the 26 deaths in the Lyari building collapse in June.
The counsel of the petitioners, the building shareholders, claimed they had informed SBCA of the building’s condition and though it was the latter’s job to vacate it, the police had filed a case against the building owners instead.
Justice Gaddi expressed displeasure with the investigation officer (IO) for failing to present a challan even after a month.
The IO said it was delayed due to the SBCA’s own investigations. “Do you want the court to dismiss this important case?” asked the judge.
The court sought a report from SBCA and other parties on August 4.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2020.
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