SHC tells govt to explain transfers before LG polls
A file photo of the Sindh High Court building.
Sindh High Court on Friday summoned Sindh Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput in personal capacity on a petition related to the transfer and appointment of government officials before the local bodies' elections. The court ordered the public prosecutor to submit a reply within three days.
A bench comprising Justice Yusuf Ali Saeed and Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry heard the petition against the transfer and appointment of officers before the local body elections. The petitioner's counsel submitted that the transfers and appointments of the officers in the province should be annulled. The court expressed its displeasure at the Sindh government for making large-scale transfers.
The petitioner's counsel submitted that the secretary local government has also been transferred. The court expressed surprise at the transfer of secretary local government before the LG polls.
During the hearing the representative of the Election Commission of Sindh made an important statement in the court.
The law officer of the Election Commission stated that the Sindh government has made transfers and appointments even after announcing the schedule of the local bodies' elections, which was totally against the law.
He said that the Election Commission took notice and sent many letters to Sindh government. Sindh government has withdrawn some transfer orders while the notification of transfer of many officers has not been withdrawn till now.
The petitioner's counsel submitted that the elections in the second phase of the municipal elections are to be held on January 15. Sindh government is continuously violating the election laws.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2022.