KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the federal and provincial authorities on a petition filed against the Sindh Charities Registration and Regulation Act, 2019.

The two-judge bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar put the federal secretaries of law and economic affairs division, chief secretary of Sindh, Charities Registration and Regulation Commission of Sindh and other respondents on notice for Aug 26.

The petition was filed by several civil society organisations through senior counsel Rasheed A. Razvi challenging the act.

The counsel argued that the act was ultra vires and in violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

He further contended that around 10 sections of the impugned act were in violation of fundamental rights, unjustified and capable of being used as a tool for oppression and discrimination.

The lawyer argued that the economic affairs division had no statutory backing/ locus standi and lawful authority to frame, regulate enact the rules titled as NGOs Policy, 2013 and this was liable to be declared void for being in violation of Articles 4, 10-A, 17 and 25 of the Constitution.

The petitioners pleaded to strike down the act for being ultra vires to the Constitution and also sought restraining order for respondents from taking action or implementing any provision of impugned policy 2013 and act 2019 against the petitioners and their representatives.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2020