January 7, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 6, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 6: The Sindh High Court issued the advocate-general a notice on Friday in a petition alleging disappearance of a landowner of Gwadar and his cousin, who went missing along with the car they were driving in from Mauripur on Nov 29.

Petitioner Khadija Bibi submitted that her husband, Brahim Saleh, and his cousin, Farooq, drove from their Jawaid Baharia Housing Colony residence to a commercial bank in the Mauripur area in his car at 11am. on Nov 29 for obtaining a draft for Rs2.5 million. They did not return and had not been seen or heard of since. She expressed the fear that her spouse and his cousin might have been detained by a law enforcement agency.

The petitioner claimed that she contacted the police high-ups, the town police of Keamari and the SHO of Mauripur, but they did not respondent to plea for help. She expressed the fear that her spouse and his cousin might have been detained

An SHC division bench, comprising Justices Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Nadeem Azhar Siddiqui, asked the advocate-general to ascertain the missing people’s whereabouts from the agencies concerned and inform the court on Jan 17.

PMDC MEETING: The bench also issued a notice to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council in a petition by two private medical institutions against an interim order staying the Dec 26 meeting of the PMDC. The stay was granted at the request of Ziauddin Medical University and another institution, which said the PMDC could not elect its president and vice-president without giving representation to private institutions.

Advocate Faez Isa Qazi submitted that election constituted only one item on the agenda of the PMDC meeting. It was also to consider, among other matters, permission to two institutions, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry and Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences to hold MBBS examination. They would not be able to send their students for the examination if final approval was not granted. He said the petitioner institutions had no objection to the meeting of stay if it was confined to election.

DEMOLITION STAYED: The bench, meanwhile, restrained the Karachi Building Control Authority from further demolition of Sweet Home and building in Model Colony on a petition moved by Qamuruddin Sheikh.

The petitioner’s counsel, Shaukat Ali Shaikh, submitted that an application for regularization of the building was pending with the KBCA and the petitioner had paid the requisite fee. The authority has, however, undertaken demolition of the building and has already demolished it.

Issuing a notice to the KBCA, the bench restrained the authority from carrying out further demolition till the next date of hearing.

STAY DECLINED: A special division bench, comprising Justices Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Gulzar Ahmed, declined to stay the ongoing negotiations between former federal minister Islamuddin Shaikh, the owner of Karan Sugar Mills, Sukkur, and creditor banks. The settlement talks were ordered by a banking court. The banking court order was challenged by M/s Euro Plus Mons of Belgium, the auction purchaser who claims to have paid a sizable amount as the highest bidder.

The auction was challenged by Mr Shaikh in the Supreme Court, which remanded the case to the banking court. The banking court asked the owner to enter into talks with the creditor banks for settlement.

NOTICE TO RIZVIA: A notice was also issued to the Rizvia Housing Society for allegedly converting part of a road adjoining a college into a cattle market and a venue for slaughter of sacrificial animals on Eidul Azha. Advocate Islam Hussain argued that the conversion of a road into a cattle market was patently unlawful.

DETENTION PETITION: The counsel of detained leader of banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan on Friday sought time from Sindh High Court to ask his client whether he is willing to execute surety for his good behaviour for three years as asked by provincial authorities, adds PPI.

SHC’s division bench, comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Nadeem Azhar Siddiqui, was hearing the petition against detention of SSP leader Maulana Ali Sher Haideri, detained by the provincial government under anti-terrorism laws since July 21 last.

The detention was challenged by Maulana Gulsher Ali, father in law of the detainee.

Petitioner’s counsel Farmood Ali Khan said that the government kept confining detainee under Section 11-EEE of Anti-Terrorism Act without any specific charges and issuing any showcause notices.

He said that detainee has confined in Sukkur prison since last six months.

On court notice, Additional Advocate General Ahmed Pirzada placed a letter from DPO Khairpur stating that a notice had been issued to the detainee and he was asked to furnish surety for good behaviour for three years, but he failed to respond to the concerned authorities.

He said that the detainee is affiliated with the banned SSP and he was detained to prevent him for committing any act of terrorism.

The court was told that detainee is involved in making speeches to create hatred amongst people and there are 16 cases which have been registered against him regarding disturbance and violation of law.

The AAG also sought time to seek instructions from concerned authorities whether on furnishing of such a surety by the detainee they are willing to release him or not.

The court granting time adjourned the hearing till Jan 9.