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KARACHI, Sept 13: The local bench of the Federal Service Tribunal is still non-functional despite the appointment of Justice Rashid Aziz Khan, former chief justice of the Lahore High Court, as FST chairman recently.
The bench consists of two members. Both members retired earlier this year.
With the appointment of Kazi Ashraf, a former provincial chief secretary, only one of the vacancies has been filled so far. The FST remained paralysed for months due to the government’s failure to appoint a chairman in time.
Pleas against privatisation
A two-member division bench of the Sindh High Court adjourned on Thursday the hearing of petitions filed against the privatisation of a coal-fired 150MW power-generating unit at Lakhra Coal Field in district Jamshoro. The hearing has been rescheduled for today (Friday), adds APP.
The bench, comprising Justice Sarmad Lal Osmani and Justice Sain Ali Dino, was hearing petitions filed by the Lakhra Power Plant Labour Union and M/s Habibullah Energy, challenging the privatisation procedure of the plant by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The authority has only coal-fired power plants in Lakhra, based on three units of 150MW each, and it has sold one of these.The Privatisation Commission of Pakistan (PCP), and the Federation and Associated Group, which has been awarded the contract, have been made respondents.
Senior Advocate Abdul Hafeez Pirzada represented M/s Habibullah Energy, the other bidder in the deal. Advocate Mujeeb Pirzada argued for the Labour Union while Advocate Shahid Hamid was the Counsel for PCP, the Federation and WAPDA.
