KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the provincial authorities to consider the pending applications of differently-abled persons and if qualified, their cases may be considered for appointment in respective departments in view of five per cent quota.

The two-judge bench headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan directed the provincial government to complete this exercise preferably within a period of three months.

A set of petitions were filed by physically challenged persons seeking implementation of government job quota allocated for them.

While disposing of the petitions after hearing all the counsel appearing either on behalf of the petitioners or respondents at length, the bench ruled that the cases of differently abled persons, which have not been rejected so far, would be considered by the competent authority strictly in accordance with law.

If those persons qualify for appointment on the sanctioned/designated posts, their cases may be considered for appointment in the respective departments, keeping in view five per cent quota as prescribed under The Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2018, it added.

The bench also directed that the exercise should be completed by the government of Sindh preferably within a period of three-month time from the date of passing of this order in accordance with law.

It may be recalled that the SHC had also passed a number of orders in the past on identical petitions and had directed the chief secretary of Sindh to oversee the entire process of recruitment of differently abled persons in different departments of the provincial government.

Mangroves’ protection

A provincial law officer on Thursday again requested the SHC for further time to file reply regarding protection of mangroves in Bundal and Buddo islands along with Karachi coast.

The two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar adjourned the hearing till May 27 with direction to file reply at next hearing.

The bench was hearing a set of petitions challenging the vires of Pakistan Islands Development Authority Ordinance.

However, on a previous hearing, petitioners said that they did not want to press the clauses of their petitions regarding the ordinance in the view of the statement made by an additional attorney general that it has repealed by efflux of time.

But, they said the petitions also contained prayer clauses about protection of mangroves of Bundal and Buddo.

Thereafter, the bench had sought comments from the federal and provincial authorities regarding protection of mangroves.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2021