KARACHI, March 14: A division bench of Sindh High Court issued notices to the respondents on Wednesday in a petition moved by a government official.

Petitioner Ghulam Rasool, a Grade-19 official of the Central Drug Laboratory, Karachi, said he joined the National Institute of Health as a scientific officer in the pharmacology department in Grade-17 in 1987.

He proceeded to Malaysia for advanced studies in 1989 and rejoined the federal health ministry in 1994.

Ghulam Rasool said his promotion was due in the year 2004 but he has been ignored by the central selection board thrice since then. Instead, he said, departmental action has been initiated against him.

The petitioner told the division bench comprising Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Ali Sain Dino Metlo in chamber that his counsel was unable to appear due to strike.

The division bench issued notices for March 28.

Justice Amir Hani Muslim, meanwhile, granted protective bail till March 21 to Mohammad Ashraf of Thatta in a sum of Rs50,000 each in two cases registered against him. Advocate Ali Gohar Soomro appeared for the applicant/accused.

In the Supreme Court Registry here, a bench comprising Justices Saiyed Saeed Ashhad and Ghulam Rabbani took up cases fixed for the day.

Hearing was adjourned at the request of lawyers appearing for the parties.