SHC issues notices in playground occupation case

Petitioner's counsel states Master Plan Department was ordered to provide court-approved maps which were not provided

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, DG-SBCA, Sub-Registrar Landhi, Director Anti-Encroachment, Director Master Plan, SSP Eastern, SHO Police Station Landhi, and other parties on a petition regarding the occupation of a playground at Khuramabad Society, Landhi.

A hearing was held on the petition that had been on hold for a long time, in front of a two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi.

The court granted a petition for an urgent hearing and issued notices to Chief Secretary, DG-SBCA, Sub-Registrar Landhi, Director Anti-encroachment, Director Master Plan, SSP East, SHO Landhi, and other parties and sought their reply.

The petitioner's counsel stated that the Master Plan Department was ordered to provide court-approved maps which were not provided. Multi-storey buildings have been constructed on the playground in Sector-37F Khuramabad, Landhi.

Hearing postponed

The Sindh High Court postponed the hearing on the Election Commission's petition challenging Asad Umar's notice of contempt.

A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Ahmad Ali Sheikh heard the petition.

Election Commission's lawyer could not appear in the court. However, Asad Umar's lawyer Anwar Mansoor Khan appeared.

Anwar Mansoor Khan stated that the Election Commission used delay tactics and had no authority to frame the charge.

The petition said Section 10 of the Election Commission Act 2017 is unconstitutional. The Election Commission is not a court or tribunal, and Article 204 of the Constitution does not apply to the Election Commission. The petitioner further argued that the Election Commission issued an illegal show cause notice on August 19 and should be suspended until a decision is taken on the application.

The court adjourned the hearing till November 20, ordered the Election Commission to submit a written response and extended the injunction to prevent the Election Commission from making a final decision.

Change in BoD

The Sindh High Court extended the injunction against the change of the K-Electric Board of Directors and sought answers from the concerned parties.

The Infrastructure Growth and Capital Fund (IGCF) filed an application to lift the injunction regarding changing the Board of directors of K-Electric in the High Court.

K-Electric, the petitioner and other parties sought time to file a written reply. The court asked the parties to respond within two weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2022.