KARACHI, Dec 7: The Sindh High Court on Thursday restrained the police department from processing tenders for supply of assorted material to it pending hearing of a petition on December 21.

Petitioner Mohammad Siddiq submitted through Advocate Khwaja Naveed Ahmed that he was a general supplier of goods to government and semi-government departments, private and public corporations. Among other things, he had been supplying khaki drill cloth and slippers to the police department whenever tenders submitted by him were approved. In its latest tender notice, however, the department has restricted pre-qualification of tenders to manufacturers of items needed by it. General suppliers have been excluded in violation of the Public Procurement Rules, the petitioner contended.