SHC disposes of custody plea by Arzoo’s parents

Another petition claims federal govt is inviting tenders, has signed agreement for work on Bhandar Island

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) disposed of on Friday the plea seeking custody of Arzoo Masih - a teenage Christian girl who was married to a middle-aged man allegedly after being abducted and forcibly converted.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice KK Agha, heard the plea filed by Arzoo's parents. The SHC had previously sent the girl to a shelter home after finding that she was underage and hence could not legally enter into a marriage.

The court remarked that Arzo should file a plea herself if she wished to go with her parents. Her parents' counsel, however, argued that the shelter home cannot provide good care to the teenage girl.

The bench remarked that the court had not restricted anyone and Arzoo could meet anyone she wants at the shelter home. The counsel informed the court that Arzoo's parents wanted to file a plea for guardianship in a family court and prayed the court to pass an order declaring that the SHC had not restricted them from seeking Arzoo's custody.

"Do you know what a guardianship case is? It is a case filed by one of the parents to get custody of the child when they have differences or dispute," remarked Justice Sahito. The bench directed the petitioners to reach out to a family court if they wanted and disposed of the plea.

Disputed islands

A petition was filed in the SHC seeking a hearing on petitions pertaining to the Centre taking over Sindh's islands.

The petition contends that the Attorney-General of Pakistan had assured the court that nothing would be done without consulting stakeholders, including the Sindh government and the local fishing community.

But, claimed the petition, the federal government had begun inviting tenders for development work and signed an agreement with the Netherlands government for desalination plants at Bhandar Island, in contradiction of the AGP's assurances to court.

Notices issued

Meanwhile, a bench, headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar, issued notices to the universities and boards secretary and universities director over a contempt of court plea pertaining to the restoration of former University of Sindh vice chancellor Fateh Muhammad Burfat.

The petitioner's counsel maintained that the Sindh government had taken back the notification suspending Burfat and granting him leave on November 24 but he hadn't been restored to his post yet.

The inquiry initiated by the government to investigate the charges of corruption against Burfat was illegal because junior officials were appointed, contended the counsel.

The court issued notices to the universities and boards secretary and universities director, seeking their replies on the contempt plea on December 12.

Report sought

Separately, the SHC sought an investigation report from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) while hearing the bail plea of Pakistan People’s Party leader Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar.

The petitioner's counsel maintained that the anti-graft bureau had summoned Mahar on December 7 but the MNA could not appear before the NAB as he is unwell. He prayed the court to grant Mahar an extension and restrict the bureau from arresting him.

The court directed Mahar to appear before NAB by December 21 and sought an investigation report from the bureau. The Sukkur NAB had summoned Mahar for investigation on illegal land allotment in Ghotki.

B-forms for orphans

Another plea was filed regarding the National Database and Regulatory Authority's rules allegedly hindering the academic progress of an orphan.

The petitioner, Maham Rehman, maintained that NADRA was not issuing her a B-form in the absence of her parents, who passed away when she was a toddler. As a result, she contended, she was not issued an admit card for her matric examination.

The plea moved the court to direct NADRA to issue Maham the B-form and the matric board office to issue her an admit card.