KARACHI, May 28: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a 1995 writ petition challenging a provincial government notification putting a price of Rs 3 million on Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Imran Farooq’s head.

The petition was filed by Ms Raisa Farooq, mother of Dr Imran Farooq. Another petition, challenging an identical notification announcing a “head money” of Rs 2 million for another MQM leader, Saleem Shahzad, in January 1995 was filed by his wife.

The notifications said the two accused were required in a number of heinous offences registered by the police. They were declared proclaimed offenders and rewards were announced for their arrest or capture, dead or alive.

The petitioners said the 1995 notifications were violative of the Supreme Court and SHC judgments on the issue of “head money”.

Dr Imran Farooq had also had a price fixed on his head in 1992. The proclamation was challenged by his mother and an SHC division bench, comprising former chief justice Nasir Aslam Zahid and Justice Shaukat Hussein Zubaidi, declared the “head money” illegal and unconstitutional.

The judgment was challenged by the provincial government but was upheld by the Supreme Court.

The two petitions came up before a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, on Wednesday. No counsel was present to represent the petitioner.

Additional Advocate-General Qazi Khalid Ali, who appeared for the respondent provincial government, submitted that according his information, the petitions had already been dismissed for non-prosecution.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.