KARACHI, Dec 18: A division bench of the Sindh High Court reserved on Thursday its order on a writ petition moved by the Orangi Town Nazim against his removal by the chief minister.

Barrister Kamaluddin Azfar argued on behalf of Nazim Shahid Alam alias Guddu Bihari that neither the provincial government nor the chief minister had any powers under the law to remove a duly-elected nazim or naib (deputy) nazim. Only his constituents could vote him out by adopting a no-confidence motion.

Contesting the petition, Advocate-General Anwar Mansoor Khan and Additional AG M. Ahmed Pirzada submitted that a nazim or naib nazim could be removed by the chief minister under the provisions of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO), 2001. Sections 136, 137 and 138 of the ordinance, read with its section 197, fully empowered the provincial chief executive in this behalf.

They maintained that the petitioner nazim was indulging in corruption and undesirable activities. They showed the bench a confidential report about the nazim’s activities but refused to divulge its contents. The law officers said the SLGO conferred adequate powers on the chief minister to ensure smooth functioning of the local bodies.

The bench, which consisted of chief justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, reserved its order after hearing the two sides.