SUKKUR: The Constitutional Bench of the Sindh High Court at Sukkur has restrained the Public Health Engineering department from going ahead with the works it had allowed to be undertaken under a tender, whose process was challenged by a contractor.

The bench comprising Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi and Justice Arbab Ali ordered immediate suspension of all works being carried out under the disputed notice inviting tender (NIT) issued by the department.

It was seized with a constitutional petition (CP No. 899/2026) filed by a government contractor, Khalid Khan.

Counsel for the petitioner Advocate Agha Soorat Ali Khan informed the bench that the complaint redressal committee’s decision was issued on February 16, 2026 whereas the work order had been issued on February 13, 2026, i.e. before the expiry of the prescribed appeal period.

The counsel argued that issuing work orders prior to the expiry of the appeal period was not only contradictory to rules and regulations but also undermined the principles of transparency and merit, making an impartial investigation inevitable.

PEC Chief Engineer Barkat Khawaja appeared before the bench to explain the department’s point of view.

The bench expressed its displeasure over the matter and directed that all work under the disputed NIT of the PHE department be stopped with immediate effect.

The court also remarked that the allegations surrounding the tendering process warranted an independent inquiry, and indicated that the case could be referred to NAB or the FIA to investigate the legality and transparency of the procurement process.

The matter was adjourned to a date in office.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2026