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KARACHI, May 20: Water supply to the megapolis will not be privatized and such a programme is not in pipeline.
This statement was given by the AAG Sindh and the legal advisor to the City District Government Karachi here on Tuesday before a division bench of the Sindh High Court, comprising Justices Sabihuddin Ahmed and S. Ali Aslam Jafri.
The bench was hearing a constitutional petition filed by Mohsin Raza of People’s Labour Union of the KWSB against an alleged plan to privatize the water supply system of Karachi city.
Junaid A Farooqui, advocate, counsel for petitioner, did not press after this statement by the state counsel.
The bench then disposed of the same, saying that the “petitioner will have the right to move the court in case such an effort is made in future”.
Another bench of the SHC, comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim, directed the KBCA officials to furnish a list of officials who served as deputy controllers of the KBCA during the period 1999-2003 in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.
The bench, earlier, observed that why these officials have failed to take an action against illegal and un-authorized constructions during their tenure as DBCs.
The bench also summoned the EDO Gulshan Town to appear before the bench on a next date of hearing to be fixed later by the office of the court.
The bench also directed the deputy controller of buildings, Agha Masood, to attend the court on each and every hearing of a suit 1040/2002 filed by the Imperial Builders in respect of Waseem Bagh Housing Project.
Agha Masood earlier filed an unconditional apology before the bench. He was asked by the bench to explain the reasons for not filing statements in writing in the instant suit.
SHOWCAUSE: Mohammed Shahid Alam alias Guddo Bihari, Nazim of Orangi Town, challenged issuance of a show-cause notice against him under the Efficiency and Disciplinary Rules-1973.
Barrister Kamal Azfar, counsel for petitioner, appearing before a division bench of High Court of Sindh submitted here on Tuesday that the Nazim is an elected person and not a civil servant.
This was entirely without jurisdiction and he cannot be asked to show-cause under the rules meant for civil servants, argued Barrister Kamal Azfar seeking an order of restraint.
The bench, however, declined to issue any stay order and issued notice to the respondents.
When the counsel requested for fixation of date in the next week, the bench declined the request, saying that he can move an application for an urgent hearing if he chooses so.
The petitioner, who is Nazim Orangi Town, moved the court against constitution of a joint inspection team in November 2002, stopping of operation of all accounts of Orangi Town since Dec 20, 2002, and showcause notice served upon him under sub section (b) of section 132 of SLGO which required of the petitioner to show-cause “why disciplinary action under Efficiency and Disciplinary Rules of 1973 should not be initiated” against him on alleged complaints and finding regarding alleged serious irregularities.
The said notice was issued by Syed Yaqoob Zaidi, member, Provincial Local Government Commission. The bench, later, adjourned further the hearing.—APP
