KARACHI : Textile ministry told to appoint 16 officers
KARACHI, Oct 3: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday ordered the Ministry of Textile to appoint 16 men as cotton field officers (BPS-16) who had completed a two-year training programme of the ministry in 2003 for the above posts.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Faisal Arab, was hearing petition 594 filed by Muhammad Nadeem Bhatti and 15 other CFO candidates.
Mr Bhatti, appearing to argue the joint petition, informed the court that the ministry had declined to absorb/appoint them on the ground of non-availability of vacancies and funds required for salaries for them.
He further submitted that 180 vacancies of CFOs were existing in the ministry, and that the total amount of their salaries would be not more than Rs175,000 per month, which was very much affordable for the ministry.
He also submitted that the ministry had assured them in their offer letters that they would be absorbed/appointed CFOs after the completion of the two-year training. They had also been receiving a stipend of up to Rs1,800 per month per person during the training.
Deputy Attorney-General Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui appeared for the government.
Kidnapping case
An SHC division bench comprising Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery on Wednesday, admitting an appeal for hearing against the award of life-term in a kidnapping for ransom case, issued a notice to the AG Sindh for a date in office.
Applicant Mohammad Asif was awarded life sentence by an anti-terrorism court on Aug 31 after finding him guilty in the case. He was tried for kidnapping seven-year-old Mohammad Faisal for ransom on Nov 29, 2006 and killing him with the help of two other absconding co-accused.
According to the prosecution, he along with absconding co-accused Ejaz and Imran demanded Rs400,000 from the victim’s family for his release and later received Rs35,000. However, they did not release the boy and killed him. The boy’s body was found in a well near Memon Goth.
Denying the allegation and expressing dissatisfaction over the trial court judgment, the applicant approached the SHC praying it to set aside the impugned judgment and acquit him.
The division bench after preliminary hearing admitted the petition for hearing and adjourned the matter for a date in office.
KBCA officials
The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the Karachi Building Control Authority to take action against its officers involved in facilitating unauthorised constructions in the city and submit a detailed report within four weeks.
The division bench comprising Justice Musheer Alam and Justice Arshad Siraj was hearing the petition filed by Kafeel Ahmed, a resident of Garden West, against an illegal construction and KBCA negligence to stop it.
He submitted that he had moved several applications in the KBCA to stop the illegal construction being raised in violation of the approved plan adjacent to his house but the KBCA did not taken any action. He prayed the court to restrain the builder from further illegal construction.
The court observed that the KBCA was overlooking illegalities in the city and its officers connived with the builders to enrich themselves. It was no service to society but abdication of duty and serious action was warranted against officers involved in these practices.
The SHC division bench after preliminary hearing directed all Town Building Control Officers to take immediate action in all such cases against building owners, KBCA officers and all those involved in it.
Imran’s petition
A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday disposed of a constitutional petition filed by Zubair Khan,,the Sindh president of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, challenging the ban on the entry of party chief Imran Khan into Sindh, when the court was informed that the government had already withdrawn the ban.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Faisal Arab was hearing the petition.
Assistant Sindh Advocate-General Abdul Jabbar Lakho presented the notification of the withdrawal of the restriction on Imran Khan, which was issued on Oct 28. Justice (retd) Shaiq Osmany appeared for Imran Khan.—Agencies
