Mohatta Palace should be called Qasr-e-Fatima: SHC

KMC employee moves court over non-payment of his dues

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has issued restraining orders against calling Qasr-e-Naz, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah's property, as Mohatta Palace.

The court, while issuing the verdict, said that Mohatta Palace should be written as and called Qasr-e-Fatima.

The court stopped the authorities from using the name Mohatta Palace for Qasr-e-Fatima.

Fatima Jinnah had announced plans to make Qasr-e-Naz a modern medical college for free education of girls.

The court directed the parties to make recommendations for conversion of Qasr-e-Fatima to a medical college. The petition filed by Fatima Jinnah's cousin, Hussain G. Walji, had been pending since 1971.

Hussain Walji was the son of Fatima Jinnah's uncle. After Hussain Walji's death, his descendants are claiming the division of the property. The main case related to inheritance of Mohatta Palace is still pending.

Unpaid employee moves SHC

A retired employee of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has moved the Sindh High Court against non-payment of his dues.

Mujeebuddin Fatemi, who retired from the KMC, requested the court to pass an order to issue of an order to provide group insurance and benevolent funds. The petition states that Fatemi is a resident of Block-I, North Nazimabad, and was appointed as an office associate in 1997.

He was promoted to Basic Pay Scale-16 and retired in 2006. He also served as an office superintendent at Sobraj Maternity Hospital.

The petitioner contended that the provincial and federal governments have announced group insurance for their employees.

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Moreover, the Supreme Court has also ordered to provide group insurance to the retired employees.

"I submitted an application for payment of group insurance in September, 2012, however, the KMC officials did not act on my request," the petitioner agued.

He requested the court to issue directions to the KMC for payment of group insurance.

The Sindh chief secretary, local government secretary, KMC administrator and KMC HR director have been made parties in the petition.

Money laundering petition

A petition has been filed in the Sindh High Court against a money-laundering investigation of clearing agents for smuggling wine on the pretext of supplying to foreign embassies.

Petitioners Syed Khurram Hussain Naqvi and Muhammad Sohail contended customs officials claimed to have seized liquor under the guise of diplomatic cargo. "Money laundering investigations are now underway following the alcohol smuggling case," the petition argued.

adding that a complaint was filed against the petitioners under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. "It has nothing to do with alcohol smuggling or money laundering," it argued,

The petition added that the anti-money laundering complaint should be dismissed and the customs officials should be restrained from conducting any investigation.

The finance secretary, the directorate of intelligence and investigation customs, director anti-trafficking organisation and others have been named as parties in the petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2021.