SHC issues arrest warrant for antiquities officer
The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Monday an arrest warrant for Sindh Antiquities Department section officer Muhammad Khan Bhingwar for failing to appear in court despite judicial orders.
A single-member bench, comprising Justice Agha Faisal, was hearing a contempt of court plea filed by the Karachi Gymkhana (KG) administration against Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director-general (DG) and others.
According to the petitioners, KG was not a heritage building and could not be made one without a gazetted letter. The plea moved the court to restrict the SBCA and Shallwani from hindering the gymkhana building's renovation.
The court directed the police to arrest Bhingwar and present him before the court on July 27. It also restricted the Sindh advocate general from pursuing the case on behalf of Shallwani and others.
"The government lawyer cannot advocate for Shallwani and others in a contempt of court case," remarked Justice Faisal, adding that the nominated parties could hire a private lawyer at their own expense.
The commissioner had submitted a reply at the last hearing, claiming that the contempt of court plea was baseless and he could not even contemplate disrespecting or violating judicial orders.
Notice issued to NAB
Meanwhile, a two-member bench, comprising Justice Khadim Hussain M Sheikh and Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry, issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over the bail plea of the accused in a corruption reference
The court was hearing the bail plea of Fazal Qadir Khan in a reference against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Adil Siddiqui, pertaining to corruption in the Sindh Small Industries Corporation (SSIC).
The court issued a notice to NAB and sought a reply by August 13.
According to NAB, Siddiqui was accused of illegally purchasing 5,000 square feet of land owned by SSIC in Larkana.
Construction on park land
Separately, the bench directed a petitioner to fix the next hearing of a plea against the construction of Aman Tower on land reserved for a public park and playground at Korangi Crossing, after the court's vacations.
The petitioner's counsel claimed that the eight-storey building had been constructed on land of 6,000 yards that had been illegally occupied.
He further maintained that its construction was also a violation of Supreme Court orders, with the administration failing to raze the structure despite judicial orders.
The counsel moved the court to direct the relevant authorities to raze the building.
SSP's appointment
Meanwhile, the SHC rejected a request to conduct the immediate hearing of a plea challenging the appointment of a SSP.
According to the petitioner, Irfan Bahadur was a Grade 18 official and could not be posted to a Grade 19 position. He pointed out that the Islamabad High Court had previously nullified several notifications for the appointments of Grade 18 officials on Grade 19 positions. He further moved the court to direct the authorities to appoint Bahadur as per the reserved pay scale and nullify the orders appointing him as a SSP.
The court rejected the request for an immediate hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2020.