HYDERABAD, Aug 15: The Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the secretary of local government, district nazim and the DCO of Matiari and four others on a petition filed by Matiari District Naib Nazim Noor Mohammad Nizamani.

The petitioner, who was represented by Abdul Sattar Kazi advocate, said that a respondent, deputy district officer (DDO) of finance and planning, Muneer Tunio, private secretary to district nazim, Arbab Hajano, and mukhtiarkar of Matiari taluka, Salamat Memon, broke open locks on the district council and sealed his office, which was then handed over to Muneer Tunio.

He said that on July 31 the DCO of Matiari posted the respondent DDO in the council in addition to his official duties, and then another respondent, Yousuf Hajano, called the session on Aug 11 although he was not competent to do so.

He said that the local government department recalled the orders of DCO on Aug 4 and allowed him to continue work but the district government did not act upon it. The petitioner's counsel said that the respondents were trying to harass his client. On Aug 8, one Mohammad Qaim who belonged to opposite party fired on Mr Nizamani’s petrol pump to terrify him, he said.

He prayed the court to declare the letter issued by the council officer as illegal and requested to declare that any decision taken by the impugned session of the council should also be declared illegal.

He said that the respondents should be restrained from acting illegally as they had no power to break open any office of the petitioner and issue requisition for session.

The court fixed the next hearing for Aug 22.