KARACHI: The Supreme Court-mandated commission on water and sanitation in Sindh on Saturday granted a “last chance” to a Chinese sanitation company working in Karachi to make its command and control system functional within three weeks.

The commission, headed by retired Justice Amir Hani Muslim, observed that it had passed an order on Oct 30, warning the Chinese firm tasked with the disposal of garbage in South and East districts that not even a single penny would be paid to it if it failed to install its command and control system within 15 days.

On Nov 7, the contractor and the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) informed the commission that both sides had agreed to outsource the command and control system and it would be made functional within 15 days as per a promise made on Oct 30.

Judicial commission asks govt to notify Jamshoro DC as administrator of town committee

However, the lawyer for the Chinese contractor submitted that they had taken all possible steps to make the system functional, but still they needed more time and sought three weeks.

Justice Muslim said: “As a last chance, time is extended for another three weeks. No further time shall be granted in the case. If the contractor fails to make the command and control system functional, no amount shall be released.”

However, the commission added that funds for the bills for August would be released forthwith and for September in the next week.

Jamshoro DC to act as administrator

The commission on Saturday directed the provincial government to immediately issue a notification empowering the deputy commissioner of Jamshoro as the administrator of the town committee as the Anti-Corruption Establi­shment (ACE) was conducting an inquiry against its chairman.

There were complaints against chairman of the town committee Faisal Khan and the local government secretary had conducted an inquiry against him and placed the report before the commission in August.

On the basis of the inquiry report, the commission had directed the ACE to hold an inquiry against the chairman and in the intervening period the financial powers of the chairman was withdrawn through a notification issued on Sept 9.

However, the Jamshoro DC informed the commission through letters that the chairman had tried to tamper with the evidence to defeat the proceedings.

When confronted, the chairman admitted that he took home the official laptop which contained official record. He also conceded that purchases were made by him amounting to more than Rs10 million without calling council sessions.

Therefore, the local government secretary suggested that as per Section 74 of the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, the DC may be assigned the powers of administrator of the town committee.

The commission directed the government to notify the DC as the administrator of the town committee so that the proposed inquiry should not be influenced either by the chairman or any elected member of the council.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2018