The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Thursday written orders for authorities to make special arrangements for disposing of offal, lifting garbage and draining accumulated rainwater in the city during Eidul Azha.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Khadim Hussain M Shaikh and Justice Arshad Hussain Khan, made the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) and Central district municipal corporation (DMC) chairperson parties to the order.
The court maintained that it was the responsibility of the relevant authorities to keep the city clean and ordered SSWMB, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Central DMC and other relevant authorities to submit a report on August 13.
Assets beyond means
The SHC also sought the National Accountability Bureau’s complete inquiry report in an assets beyond means reference against former provincial minister Manzoor Wassan.
The NAB prosecutor informed the court that the inquiry against Wassan had been completed and its details sent to the NAB headquarters.
The court asked him whether the inquiry would be turned into an investigation, to which he said this would be decided by the NAB chairperson.
The court sought the complete inquiry report, while extending Wassan’s interim bail till September 3.
Construction at gymkhana
Meanwhile, the SHC once again rejected the Sindh government’s appeal to immediately suspend a court decision regarding construction at the Karachi Gymkhana (KG).
The same bench was hearing the plea, where the Sindh advocate general stated that the provincial government had sent notices to stop illegal construction at the KG following the Supreme Court’s (SC) orders last year. He added that whenever the Sindh government sent notices to the KG administration, a contempt of court plea was filed against it.
He further told the court that if the police had mistreated the KG management, the government apologised and gave assurances that it would not happen again. The court remarked that it could not suspend the order without listening to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), seeking a reply from it on August 11.
Meanwhile, the KG lawyer told the court that the Karachi commissioner and South deputy commissioner were gymkhana members and sent the notices after the management did not give membership to their friends. Moreover, he stated, they sent the police to arrest the KG president and harassed the administration.
The court maintained that if the SC’s orders had been violated, the government should approach the apex court.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2020.
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