12 February 2005	Saturday	02 Muharram 1426

KARACHI, Feb 11: The Sindh High Court dismissed on Friday several petitions challenging cancellation of allotment of industrial plots at SITE, Superhighway, Scheme-33, Malir.

About 140 plots, spread over 85 acres, were allotted by balloting among the applicants in May 2004. The applicants paid Rs 500,000 and were allotted plots after scrutiny.

There were reports of bungling alleging that the plots were allotted to favourites by bogus drawing of plots. The chief secretary instituted an inquiry and cancelled the plots in pursuance of recommendations made by the probe committee.

Many allottees approached the high court, saying that the cancellation was illegal. The petitioners said the balloting was genuine and was done in the presence of a committee of high-ups. The applications were duly scrutinized and a vested right accrued to them when payments made by them were accepted and the allotment letters were issued.

Appearing for the provincial government, Additional Advocate-General M. Ahmed Pirzada submitted that the government acted on the report of an impartial committee. The plots would be disposed of in a transparent manner and the aggrieved allottees could participate in the proposed public auction.

PETITION ALLOWED: The Sindh High Court on Friday, allowing a petition filed by the chairman of a private airline held that the inquiry conducted by FIA against the petitioner is "illegal" and restrained it from conducting further inquiry, adds PPI.

Mohammad Umer Farooq, Chairman of Bhoja Air, challenged the FIA inquiry against him and prayed the court to restrain respondents from taking any action against him.

The court made it clear that it was a dispute between parties over alleged non-payment of loan. Allowing the petition, the court held that the inquiry being conducted by the FIA against the petitioner is without jurisdiction and illegal.