SHC seeks report on Lyari Expressway evictees
The Sindh High Court has ordered to submit comprehensive reports along with documents on the contempt of court petition against the project director of Lyari Expressway Resettlement Project (LERP) for not providing alternative accommodation to the affectees of the project.
A two-judge bench headed by Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput heard the contempt of court petition. The counsel for LERP stated that the project provided alternative accommodation to all the affectees.
Justice Rajput remarked, "How did you give possession? Did you give it on paper?" The LERP counsel argued that the physical possession was given and that there was no question of contempt of court.
The court directed the LERP counsel to present one of the documents, suggesting that alternative plots were given. The court expressed strong anger over the LERP counsel for not submitting the documents. Justice Rajput remarked, "You should speak legally. Don't narrate a story. You should be fined."
The court sought a reply from the project director and directed him to submit comprehensive reports and documents on December 14.
KBA's electricity bill
The Sindh High Court has extended the restraining order seeking details of Karachi Bar Association (KBA) bills from Public Works Department (PWD) on a petition seeking disconnection of power supply to the KBA over non-payment of the bill.
A two-judge bench headed by Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput heard the petition. The PWD's counsel stated that it was not authorised to pay the bill.
Advocate Naeem Qureshi argued that PWD paid the bills of the bars of entire province.
Advocate Omar Soomro said that PWD also pays the bill of Sindh High Court Bar.
The court remarked that if PWD does the maintenance of the bar then why it does not pay the bill. The PWD's counsel argued that they do maintain the building but do not pay the bill. "The meter from which the power is supplied does not belong to PWD," the PWD counsel said.
"Then solve the problem by installing PWD meter," Justice Rajput remarked. The court sought details from the PWD regarding the Karachi Bar bills. The court remarked that it should be told who used to pay KBA bills in the past. "We will make a decision based on the past record," the court remarked.
The court extended the interim order till December 16. The court has restrained K-electric from disconnecting the power supply of Karachi Bar Association.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2021.