SHC orders action against profiteers
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the action against profiteers in a contempt of court petition against Karachi commissioners and others regarding arbitrary increase in milk prices.
A two-member bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh, heard the petition. Irfan Aziz, counsel for the petitioner, argued that at present the milk is being sold at Rs140 to 150 per litre in the city. The court had ordered to determine the price within four weeks but the decision was not implemented.
The chief justice remarked that everyone in the country is worried about inflation. "Do you know the price of fodder? There are new rates every day. People from all walks of life are worried," the judge remarked.
The counsel for the petitioner stated that it was the responsibility of the administration to fix the prices.
Meanwhile, the Karachi commissioner submitted the report. The report said that action was being taken against the profiteers, adding that several meetings were held with stakeholders to determine the prices of milk and another meeting is scheduled to be held on November 24. It said as many as 2,310 profiteers were fined for more than Rs11.9 million.
The court directed to continue the action against the profiteers. The court also directed to fix the price of milk and adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.
Cattle market case
Meanwhile, the SHC has sought affidavit from the president of Malir Cantonment Board on December 7 in the petition against setting up of a cattle market by occupying private properties.
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A bench, headed by Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, heard the petition against the occupation of private properties and setting up of cattle market.
Justice Rajput told the counsel of Malir Cantonment Board that this was a common complaint of people. "You enter private societies, parks and market. Today, you are illegally setting up cattle markets in private societies, tomorrow you will break into peoples' homes. You even destroy the parks," the judge remarked.
The cantonment board counsel stated that his client was ready to submit the affidavit that nothing such was done.
At this, Justice Rajput remarked that if the affidavit turned out to be false, its repercussions would be serious. The court sought the affidavit from the president of Malir Cantonment Board on December 7.
The petition argued that every time private land is seized on the occasion of Eidul Azha and even the parks are destroyed by forcible entry into the society. The petition was filed in 2016.
Non-payment of compensation
The SHC has directed the project director of Lyari Expressway Resettlement Project to appear in person in a petition regarding non-payment of compensation to the victims of Lyari Expressway resettlement.
The petitioner's counsel argued that the authorities made a promise in June 2017 with his clients for payment of compensation within three months. "It's been over four years but nothing has been paid so far," the counsel contended.
The Assistant Advocate General argued that an amount of over Rs3 billion was released by the provincial government whereas the federal government was also involved in the plan. "We will have to see how much the federation has paid," the AAG said.
The court remarked whether the victims were paid or not. The court ordered to give compensation or alternative accommodation to Khair Muhammad and others in the case and summoned the Lyari Expressway project director on the next date of hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2021.