SHC seeks replies over creation of 7th district

The Sindh High Court issued notices to the parties in Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's plea against the carving out of a seventh district - Keamari - in the metropolis on Monday.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Aamir Liaquat also filed a similar petition before the high court.

The petitioners maintained in their pleas that the establishment of Keamari district and a related district municipal corporation was 'illegal.'

They argued that a population census was not carried out in the area before changing its status to a district, adding that a public hearing to solicit public opinion on dissolving or creating a council is a requirement before establishing a district according to revenue rules.

The petitioners contended that the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government's decision to establish Keamari district was more political than administrative. Besides, the petitioners argued that the formation of a new district before the announcement of census results was illegal and would impact the results of local government elections as well as national and provincial assembly seats.

The MQM-P counsel prayed the court to call an immediate hearing of their plea while the PTI lawmaker's counsel sought an extension to submit a counter-reply.

The court accepted MQM-P's request and issued notices to the parties seeking their replies by December 23.

Crumbling graveyards

A two-member bench, led by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and comprising Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, issued notices to the Sindh government, Karachi commissioner and others over a plea pertaining to the deteriorating condition of the city's graveyards in the aftermath of monsoon rains.

The petitioner maintained that rainwater was still accumulated in the city's graveyards. Malir, Gizri, Sakhi Hassan and Meva Shah graveyards are in the worst condition, he contended, adding that rainwater entered the graves but no one cared.

The bench directed the provincial government and the Karachi commissioner to take immediate action on the matter and inform the court about the measures taken to improve the state of the graveyards.

The court also issued notices to the parties seeking their replies on the matter.

Illegal construction

The same bench issued notices to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director-general and other parties over a plea pertaining to illegal construction in the city.

The petitioner contended that high-rise buildings were being constructed without approval. "Buildings are constructed and sold but no one gets to know about it," he argued. "Citizens lose millions of rupees and no questions are asked."

He maintained that approval was not sought from any civil institution before the construction of buildings in the metropolis.

The petitioner prayed the court to restrict illegal constructions in the city.

The court issued notices to the SBCA DG and other parties, seeking their replies by January 19. The relevant authorities should inform the court about the efforts being made to control illegal construction, remarked the bench.

Baldia fire compensation

Meanwhile, hearing a plea pertaining to non-payment of compensation to families of Baldia factory fire victims, the SHC issued a show cause notice to the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) secretary.

Pension payments to affected families have been suspended, contended the petitioner's counsel. He maintained that German textile company KiK Textilien had given over Rs6 million to the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution for compensation payments. But only Rs300,000 had been paid in compensation thus far due to the government's negligence, he contended.

The counsel maintained that the remaining Rs5.6 million was not paid despite the announcement by provincial minister Nasir Hussain Shah.

The petitioner prayed the court to direct the relevant authorities to pay compensation to the affected families in a single instalment, in accordance with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention.

Irked at the absence of the EOBI secretary, the court directed him to appear in court on December 21 and issued him a show-cause notice.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2020.