SHC issues notices on petitions against ‘non-elected mayor’

Court to resume hearing pleas challenging legislation permitting unelected persons to take office on Septembe

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has issued notices to Jamaat-Islami Karachi Ameer, Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Sindh chief secretary, municipal secretary and the advocate general on various petitions filed by Karachi's deputy mayor and others on the petition of JI Ameer regarding the legislation to elect unelected persons as mayor/chairman.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan heard the petition. The court consolidated all the petitions except that of Tariq Mansoor Advocate. Justice Irfan Saadat Khan remarked, "Has the petition not become ineffective after the election? Now the oath has been taken and the work has begun."

Tariq Mansoor Advocate stated that I have filed an application to become a separate party. Justice Irfan said in his remarks that 14 more applications were filed on whose behalf?

Barrister Taimur Ali Mirza submitted that these various petitions have been filed in favour of this law.

Justice Irfan then combined all the petitions and all applications will be heard together. The court adjourned the hearing of the petitions till September 7. In the petition, the position was taken that the local body elections were completed under the Primary Local Bodies Act, 2013.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2023.