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KARACHI, June 2: The Sindh High Court restrained the city district government on Thursday from disturbing the possession of shopkeepers who had been carrying out their businesses in a small street near Preedy police station. About 33 shopkeepers had been in possession of shops in the street since 1947, according to a writ petition moved by some of them. They said their possession had recently been questioned by the CDGK’s deputy district officer, who wanted to evict them. They said they had applied for regularization and requested the court to direct the CDGK to grant them leases.
A division bench, comprising Justices Ataur Rahman and S. Ali Aslam Jafri, asked the CDGK to file a counter-affidavit and refrain from taking adverse action in the meanwhile. Advocate Munib Ahmad Khan appeared for the petitioners and Advocate Manzoor Ahmed for the CDGK.
TEACHER’S PLEA: The CDGK’s executive district officer for education, Ejaz Ali Khan, meanwhile, appeared before a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Maqbool Baqar. The bench had issued bailable warrants to ensure his appearance in proceedings on a petition moved by schoolteacher Laiqa Sultana alleging that she was appointed in 1993 but had received no salary since.
The EDO informed the bench that the allegations made by the petitioner were probed by him. She was issued a fake letter of appointment when a ban on recruitment was in force. The letter was issued by her husband, who worked as superintendent in the (defunct) KMC’s education department. The appointment was regularized in 2000 and she had been paid her remunerations since. There was no service record available for the 1993-2000 period.
The bench adjourned further hearing to Aug 11 and also issued notice to the petitioner’s husband.
DECLARATION: A division bench, comprising Justices Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Syed Zawwar Hussain Jaffery, directed the city district government to issue a declaration for publication of monthly The Law, being brought out by Advocate Javed Siddiqui, within 15 days.
Advocate Siddiqui said in his petition that he had applied for a declaration beforce commencing publication of the monthly but the CDGK was stalling on issuing a declaration. He said the monthly was has gained circulation because of the quality of its contents and its issues were submitted to the CDGK but the government’s office concerned said it was awaiting a report from certain agencies before issuing a declaration.
PLEA DISMISSED: The bench, consisting of Justices Ataur Rahman and S. Ali Aslam Jafri, dismissed a petition moved by a non-governmental organization against the construction of Premier Residency on Queen’s Road.
Appearing for the Karachi Building Control Authority, one of the respondents, Advocate Shahid Jamil Khan submitted that the building had been inspected and had been found to have been constructed in accordance with the approved plan and rules and regulations. He said compulsory open space had been left uncovered and car parking had been provided as required by rules.
ORDER RESERVED: Another bench reserved its order on a petition moved by former Habib Bank president Yunus Dalia for quashment of a criminal case against him. Along with other bank officials, he had been accused of misusing his authority in order to release two mortgaged properties to a textile mill. The release allegedly caused a loss of Rs 18.5 million to the bank.
Mr Dalia said in his petition that he did not order the release of properties and the prosecution had no case against him.
