SHC seeks replies over local govt polls

Petitioner maintains local govt bodies have completed their four-year period


Our Correspondent August 18, 2020

The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought on Monday replies from the provincial government and provincial election commission, over a plea seeking local government elections in Sindh.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed, was hearing the plea.

The counsel representing the Sukkur and Larkana mayors maintained that the mayoral service period would end on August 28, adding that they would have no objection to holding local government elections after this date.

The petitioner, however, maintained that the local government bodies had completed their four-year period.

Addressing the Sindh additional advocate general, Justice Mazhar remarked that the case would proceed when he submitted the necessary replies.

The court adjourned the hearing till August 26 while seeking replies from the Sindh government and provincial election commission at the next hearing.

The Sindh chief secretary, chief election commissioner, election commission secretary, provincial election commissioner, local government secretary and finance department secretary have been nominated as parties in the plea.

Contempt of court

Separately, a single bench, comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, issued a contempt of court notice to the Khairpur technical education registrar and sought the laws pertaining to the appointments and promotion of teachers from the Sindh government.

The bench was hearing a plea seeking the appointment of teachers and the establishment of libraries and computer laboratories in the province.

The education secretary submitted a report in court, stating that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had accepted the summary regarding teachers' appointment and a contract was being made with the Institute of Business Administration for the purpose. It added that the matter would be settled in a week.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Technical Education Board managing director also submitted a report stating that a total of 48 departments in 251 institutes across Sindh were providing technical education.

The report submitted by Sindh Education Foundation, moreover, said there were 1,296 primary schools, 295 middle schools and 178 higher secondary schools functioning in Sindh, with over 400,000 students studying there.

The court adjourned the hearing till August 7, while issuing a contempt of court notice to the Khairpur technical education registrar for failing to comply with judicial orders. It also sought the laws pertaining to the appointments and promotion of teachers from the provincial government.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2020.

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