Report sought on Sindh wheat production, consumption

SHC grants chief secretary exemption from contempt hearings in Daniel Pearl case

The Sindh High Court sought on Wednesday a detailed report on wheat production and consumption in the province.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar was heading the bench hearing a plea against flour and wheat crisis and smuggling and hoarding of essential items.

“Why don’t you give a written answer despite repeated instructions,” Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar inquired of the food department lawyer.

The court sought the complete details of wheat production and consumption in Sindh, and ordered the food department secretary to submit a report at the next hearing on February 17.

The petitioner prayed the court to order formation of a joint-investigation team (JIT) to investigate the alleged artificial flour crisis and requested it to seek details of flour smuggling in the last six months.

Read Govt allows wheat, sugar import to check prices

Daniel Pearl case

Another two-member bench, headed by Justice Naimuttullah Phulpoto and comprising Justice Abdul Mobin Lakho, exempted Sindh chief secretary from appearing for the hearings of the contempt petition pertaining to further detention of the accused in the Daniel Pearl murder case.

The bench was hearing the contempt petition filed by Ahmed Omar Saeed and others against their further detention after acquittal. Earlier, the high court had declared a notification null and void with regard to the detention of four accused in the case.

During the hearing, the Sindh advocate-general maintained that an appeal pertaining to the matter is under trial before the Supreme Court therefore the hearing of the contempt of court plea should be adjourned till the apex court’s verdict. He moved the court to grant exemption from the court to provincial chief secretary and the home department secretary.

The bench while granting exemption to the chief secretary ruled that the home secretary and other officials would have to appear in personal capacity for the hearings.

The court directed the jail and police authorities to appear at the next hearing and adjourned further hearing of the petition till February 3.

Bail granted

Meanwhile, a bench headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro, confirmed the bail of accused builder, Sikander Abdul Karim, in the case pertaining to defrauding 600 citizens in the name of residential project.

According to the National Accountability Bureau, 600 bookings for Silver Sand project were made in 1992 but the apartments were never constructed since Karim fled from the country after collecting the money through bookings.

With additional input from PPI

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2021.