KARACHI: Leader of the Opposition in the City Council along with various other representatives of local bodies belonging to the Jamaat-i-Islami on Wednesday approached the Sindh High Court against numerous tenders issued for development works in the city.

They submitted that the Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (PIDCL), which was operating under the auspices of ministry housing and works, had issued these tenders between April 8 and May 13 for various development works to be carried out in Karachi.

Impleading the ministry, PIDCL, local government department Sindh, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and others as respondents, the petitioners contended that the impugned tenders floated by the PIDCL were patently illegal as the subject matter came within the domain of town municipal corporations (TMCs).

They also asserted that as per Article 140A of the Constitution and the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, such development can only be carried out by elected local governments or TMCs functioning throughout the province.

They further argued that the impugned tenders had been floated in violation of constitutional provision and the Sindh Local Government Act which provided that planning, development and maintenance of inter-district roads, bridges, street lights and storm water drains came within the ambit of TMCs and KMC.

The petitioners asked the SHC to set aside the impugned tenders and declare that the same were issued in violation of Article 140-A of the Constitution and Section 72 of the Sindh Local Government Act.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2025