SHC seeks explanation on blind SP posting
The Sindh High Court building. PHOTO: FILE
The Sindh High Court sought on Thursday an explanation from the Sindh Police, Sindh government and other parties on the appointment of a visually-impaired man as the telecommunications SP.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Adnanul Karim Memon, was hearing a plea challenging the appointment of Muhammad Ali, a visually-impaired man, as the telecommunications SP.
The counsel for the petitioner contended that differently-abled persons couldn't be appointed in the police.
Read: SHC seeks arguments on Uzair Baloch’s plea for copy of military court verdict
"A differently-abled person can be a clerk, a gardener, but not an SP," he insisted, adding that he had studied multiple court judgments and found no instance of a visually-impaired man being posted as a SP.
He further claimed that Ali's promotion had not been approved by any departmental promotion committee and his badge mates were still serving as constables.
The counsel added that Ali had admitted that he was promoted on the directives of the Sindh chief minister.
"But the CM does not have the authority to interfere in the rules for civil servants," he argued, warning that if the matter remained unaddressed, such appointments would continue to be made.
At that, the court inquired, "Can a blind man be posted on a high rank in the police?" How was a visually-impaired appointed on the post? Are there other examples of such appointments in the Sindh Police?"
To the court's queries, the assistant advocate-general informed the court that a visually-impaired person was appointed as a judge in Lahore and recruitment on the basis of quota for the differently-abled depended on the nature of the job in question.
"In Sindh Police, one per cent quota is reserved for the visually-impaired," he added.
The court stated that in that case, there was a possibility of a blind person being hired as a driver and that it should not happen.
"But a telecommunication official's job is to transfer wireless messages," the counsel for the Sindh government contended.
Following that, the court sought an explanation from the respondents on the matter and adjourned the hearing.
Removal from ECL
Separately, a two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Kausar Sultana Hussain order the removal of the name of Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sharjeel Inam Memon's wife, Sadaf, from the Exit Control List (ECL).
Read more: SHC seeks replies over illegal occupation of amenity plots
During the hearing of a plea seeking the removal of Sadaf's name from the no-fly list in connection with an assets beyond means case, the counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Raj Wahid, stated that his client had to visit Dubai for business.
He said the restriction of Sadaf from flying to Dubai was affecting her business, and moved the court to direct the federal government to and other relevant authorities to remove her name from the ECL.
The court directed that Sadaf's name be removed from the ECL and allowed her to fly out of the country between March 23 and April 7.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2021.