HDA slammed over staff permanence fiasco

The District and Sessions Judge Abdul Wahab Tanio, in charge of the Sindh Labour Court no six, Hyderabad, has expressed strong displeasure with the Director General (DG) of the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) during a contempt of court hearing regarding the permanence of HDA and Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation (HWSC) employees. The court had filed a petition by Noman Ahmad, Abdul Hanan Sheikh, and others.

During the hearing, the DG HDA, Secretary HDA, CEO Water Corporation, and other officers appeared before the court. However, the DG HDA failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for not implementing the court's orders, prompting the judge to remark that despite clear directives from the Supreme Court and Sindh High Court, the orders were being disregarded.

The court adjourned the hearing for four hours, directing the DG HDA to submit an implementation report. However, when the DG failed to appear during the re-hearing, the court ordered Additional Chief Secretary Khalid Haider Shah to appear in person at the next hearing with a detailed report on employee permanence and committee formation. The court warned that failure to comply would initiate contempt proceedings.

The court also directed the DG HDA and CEO Water Corporation to appear at the next hearing with reports and adjourned the case until May 10.