Govt silence on price control irks Sindh top court

Seeks implementation of laws against hoarding, profiteering

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has given a week to the federal and provincial governments to respond to the petition related to the increase in the prices of essential commodities, the prevention of hoarding and the delay in the appointment of judges of the special court.

A two-member bench headed by SHC Acting Chief Justice Irfan Saadat Khan heard the petition of Tariq Mansoor Advocate regarding the increase in prices of essential goods and prevention of hoarding and non-appointment of judges in the special court.

Justice Irfan Saadat Khan was angry with the provincial and federal government for not submitting a written reply despite the orders. He remarked that a written response was sought for the appointment of judges in the special court.

Also read: Spiking food prices irk locals

The acting chief justice asked the additional advocate general have prepare a response on the court orders. “We are giving one week to the federal and provincial governments to submit a written response,” he said The court adjourned till November 2.

Tariq Mansoor Advocate had filed a petition that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his first address after taking oath ordered legislation for black marketing.

The Hoarding and Black Marketing Act set penalties for illegal hoarding. In 1953 Karachi Essential Articles Processing Profiting and Hoarding Act was enacted for Karachi Division but not implemented. The Sindh Warehouse Registration Act, 1996 was brought for the registration of godowns but proved useless. The people should be freed from hoarders by implementing the Act, he said.

Bank fraud

A two-member bench headed by SHC Acting Chief Justice Irfan Saadat Khan heard the case related to fraud of millions of rupees from accounts of customers by employees of a bank posing as their relatives. The plea was filed by Dr Salim Habib, owner of a pharmaceutical company, .

Petitioner’s counsel submitted that the petitioner Dr Salim had gone into a coma due to Covid.

Bank employees have transferred millions of dollars abroad by taking information from bank documents.

Also read: Rs5bn embezzled, bank manager booked

Justice Irfan Saadat Khan remarked that there are very serious allegations. Banks are obliged to protect customer data. Counsel for petitioner submitted that no phone call or verification call has been received by the petitioner.

The counsel for the federal government submitted that the State Bank is an independent institution and can conduct its own investigation.

The counsel for the petitioner contended that State Bank should be directed to take action against the private banks. The lawyers of the banks submitted that whatever transaction has taken place, it has taken place at the direction of the petitioner. The court directed the petitioner’s counsel to examine the reply of private banks.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2023.