SHC orders officials to appear in roof collapse case

Upholds verdict in murder case, extends stay on petition against cancellation of tender

KARACHI:

The Chief Justice Sindh High Court, Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh took notice of the collapse of the roof of Mir Muhammad Primary School and ordered Secretary Education, Chief Engineer, DC Khairpur and others to appear with the report.

Several children and teachers were injured when the RCC roof of the primary school collapsed.

Submission of affidavit ordered

The Sindh High Court has directed the counsel of Cantonment Board Faisal to submit an affidavit at the next hearing regarding illegal constructions in KECHS.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the petition regarding illegal constructions in KECHS. The Cantonment Boards Faisal's counsel appeared in the court and presented the implementation report.

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Justice Rizvi remarked that the report appears to be based on stories. "The orders were issued in 2016. What action did you take?" the judge remarked and ordered the counsel to submit an affidavit at the next hearing. "If not acted upon by the next hearing, the Chief Executive Officer should appear," the court remarked.

Appeal of convict rejected

The Sindh High Court, while rejecting the appeal of accused against the sentence for the murder of a citizen, upheld the verdict.

A two-member bench headed by Justice KK Agha ruled on the accused's appeal against the sentence of the murder of a citizen. The court rejected the request of accused Basharat and upheld the sentence.

Purchase of school desks

In another case, the SHC has extended the stay order on the petition against the cancellation of tender for purchase of school desks by the education department in Sindh and sought arguments from the parties' counsels.

The Sindh government and the petitioner's counsels appeared in the court. The Sindh government's counsel said that if the desks are ready as per the conditions, the government is prepared to take them. The use of North Indian rosewood and high-quality steel for the desk is a prerequisite.

The court extended the stay order against the cancellation of tender to purchase school desks.

Four companies that won the tender for the making and supplying the desks have approached the court. The court sought arguments from the parties' counsels at the next hearing and adjourned the hearing till March 15. The court restrained the Sindh government from taking any action against the petitioner.

In the petition, it was argued that the tender for purchase of school desk was advertised in various newspapers.

Applicants have made 50 per cent of desks while the remaining 50 per cent are being made.

On September 26, 2021, the Minister of Education told the media that the departmental committee had recommended the cancellation of the tender. The petitioners had participated in the tender as per law.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2022.