Gas utility employees move SHC against termination

Man also seeks JIT against police for patronising land mafia

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has issued notices to the secretary of agriculture and industry, Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) and additional attorney general of Pakistan on a petition filed by the employees of the gas utility who were dismissed from service.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, heard the petition seeking dismissal of 19 petitioners from the SSGCL.

The counsel for the petitioners contended that his clients had been working for SSGCL for 20 years as permanent employees and were fired in the wake of the recent court ruling.

"We have nothing to do with the ordinance. The SSGC management is misinterpreting the Supreme Court's decision. Order may kindly be issued for cancellation of termination letter reinstatement in service," the petitioners argued.

Read Ceremony cancelled as SHC CJ skips oath-taking

The petitioners include Muhammad Arif, Amjad Ali, Kamran Anwar, Abdul Majeed, Yasir Hussain, Ghulam Mujtaba Shah, Nazim, Iqrar Hussain, Shakeel Ahmed, Arbelo, Mehtab, Huzaifa Hussain, Fida Hussain, Arif Ali, Saleem Ahmed, Kaleem-ur-Rehman, Sagar Nawaz and Asif.

Meanwhile, a retired executive engineer of Pakistan Steel Mills filed a petition in the Sindh High Court against non-payment of his dues.

Ahmed Ali Jatoi argued in the petition that he was recruited on 25th November 1969 in the PSM and was retired on 30th April 2015 as executive engineer.

"My dues are deliberately being withheld. I approached every forum including the federal ombudsman but in vein," the petitioner argued, pleading the court to direct the PSM administration for payment of his dues.

The ministry of industry and trade, CEO PSM and director administration and personnel have been made parties in the case.

Also, a petition has been filed in the Sindh High Court, seeking formation of a JIT against alleged police patronage of land grabbers.

Dr Naeem Akhtar Palejo, in his petition, argued that he was posted as deputy chief manager in Sui Southern Gas Company Limited and was a highly qualified person.

"Members of the land mafia want to illegally occupy my land situated in Thatta and the local police are patronising them," the petitioner argued.

"The police, instead of taking action against the land mafia, registered cases against me," he said.

He pleaded the court to form a JIT in the cases registered against and probe the SHO, police officers and members of the land mafia.

Federal home secretary, Sindh home secretary, Sindh IGP, SSP Thatta, DIG Ghulam Rasool Siyal, SHO Thatta Mumtaz Ali Brohi, DG FIA, DG NAB Sindh and others have been made parties in the petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2021.