KARACHI, April 10: Sindh Ombudsman Justice (retd) Haziqul Khairi has opposed appointment of mohtasibs at the district level in the province.

“I have opposed the appointment of mohtasib at the district level in the province as I have been consulted now in this regard. The federal tax ombudsman and the president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association have also opposed such an appointment”, he said.

Speaking in a radio programme here on Wednesday, Justice Khairi said he had suggested opening of regional mohtasib offices.

He maintained that since the district mohtasib would remain under the control of district Nazim and the ministry of local government, it would create confrontation. “I think it is not in the interest of the people”.

Replying to a question, he said the environmental protection agency, Sindh, was not yet fully functional. The law on environment has been implemented with the appointment of judges and magistrates, he added.

However, the judge and magistrates cannot work for ensuring strict implementation of environmental protection laws as they have not been provided staff and offices, Justice Khairi stated.

Responding to another question, he said more than 70,000 complaints were received by the Sindh ombudsman office during the last 10 years against corruption, maladministration and malpractice in various departments of the provincial government.

According to him, majority of the complaints were disposed of.

He said in certain cases he took a suo motu notice of complaints pertaining to maladministration and malpractices.

The Supreme Court referred to the Sindh ombudsman a reference to shift the vegetable and fruits market from Karachi to a site on the Super Highway. “After meeting with the concerned officials, I issued order to shift the market to its new site”.

He said a new silencer would be installed in rickshaws soon which would help check pollution.—PPI