Govt restrained from taking action against factories

SHC also sends notices to AG, IGP over failure to recruit constables

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) restrained the provincial government from taking action against allegedly illegal factories in Mehran Town.

Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the petition against the alleged illegal factories in Mehran Town. Haider Waheed, counsel for the petitioners, argued that the factory owners had complied with the rules and regulations. He added that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other departments initiated action regardless. “The SBCA wants to demolish factories.”

The court, while issuing stay orders against action by government departments, remarked that the restraining order would not apply to plots falling under the orders of the Supreme Court.

The court also issued notices to the Sindh government and others for October 20, preventing them from disconnecting electricity and gas connections. The court directed the parties to file reply by the next hearing.

Constables recruitment

The SHC issued notices to the Sindh advocate general, inspector general of police, Karachi additional IG, home secretary, Pakistan Testing Services and the police medical superintendent on the petition of candidates who were not recruited as constables on medical grounds.

The candidates were not recruited on the basis that they allegedly testing positive for hepatitis. The petitioners’ counsel argued that the advertisement for recruitment of police constables was published in February, 2020.

The petitioners passed all the tests, but were declared positive for hepatitis in the medical test. However, after getting themselves tested from a renowned lab, they tested negative for the virus. The counsel argued that the SHC should appoint its nazir to get the hepatitis tests redone.

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He said that if the candidates tested negative, orders should be passed to issue appointment letters to the petitioners. The court, while issuing notices to the parties, sought their response by October 4.

Amenity plot

Meanwhile, the court rejected a petition against the auction of an amenity plot in Block-15 of Buffer Zone.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, heard the petition. The court, after hearing the arguments of the counsels of both parties, rejected the petition. “The amenity plot can neither be sold nor auctioned,” the court remarked.

The petitioner argued that the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) had sold the plot to him in 1982. The KDA, however, argued that it was an amenity plot and was not auctioned, but encroached upon. The petitioner had requested the KDA to stop the auction and provide an alternate plot.

Position at DOW

The SHC also rejected an application seeking urgent hearing of a petition against the appointment of retired officers, including the vice-chancellor, at Dow University.

The petition argued that a NAB inquiry was underway against DOW Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Saeed Qureshi, but despite the NAB probe, his retirement period was extended for four years.

Four officers were posted in Dow University after their retirement. The retired officers included Dr Rao Sohail and Dr Nusrat. It argued that the appointment of the PRO to vice chancellors should also be declared null and void.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2021.