KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the candidature of a candidate of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

The Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) through it counsel moved a petition against PTI’s Haleem Adil Shaikh, who is contesting the election from PS-99 (Karachi East-I), and contended that he had obtained a loan of Rs8 million from the bank, but did not return it.

The counsel argued that the PTI candidate had not mentioned about the loan in the affidavit submitted along with his nomination papers.

After hearing both sides, a bench of the SHC dismissed the petition.

The bench also dismissed another petition filed against the candidature of former chief minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, who is contesting election from his ancestral constituency PS-80 (Jamshoro-I), over dual nationality.

Dismissing the plea, the bench observed that Mr Shah had already surrendered his Canadian nationality.

A petition of Habib Jan Baloch, an estranged leader of the PPP, has also been dismissed.

He moved the SHC against the order of a returning officer for rejecting his nomination paper from NA-246 over dual nationality.

Notices against Askari Park

A bench of the SHC on Friday issued notices to the management of Askari Park and provincial and local authorities on a petition against using the park for commercial purposes.

Referring to a recent incident in which a swing/ride at the park had collapsed resulting in the death of a teenage girl and injuries to others, the petitioner contended that the swings at the park were not properly maintained and posing a threat to visitors and maintained that management of the park had ended green belt and was using the premises for commercial purpose without taking any no-objection certificate.

The bench issued notice to respondents with direction to file their comments till July 31.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2018