KARACHI, April 26: The Sindh High Court allowed the Al-Rasheed Trust to retrieve perishable edibles and medicines from its sealed premises for distribution in the earthquake-hit areas under the supervision of the Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority.

The trust had moved an urgent application in its pending petition against the sealing of its premises and freezing of its accounts. Deputy Attorney-General Akhter Ali Mahmud said the federal government had no objection to the removal of perishable items from the sealed premises for distribution in the earthquake-hit areas. However, since the action had been taken in pursuance of a decision taken by the United Nations, the trust could not be allowed to take delivery of the items and distribute them on its own. The distribution would be done by the government through its relief and rehabilitation agency.

Partially allowing the application, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Sain Ali Dino Metlo granted the DAG’s request for time to enable him to submit comments in the petition on behalf of the government. The hearing was adjourned till May 15

Reuters adds: The court ordered authorities to re-open offices of the charity, a lawyer said.

The two-member bench ruled there was no justification for closing the offices of the trust.