KARACHI, Feb 29: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Friday asked a number of petitioners challenging unofficial results to approach election tribunals as their petitions required recording of evidence for their adjudication.

PPP’s Faisal Raza Abidi (NA-153), Abdul Hakim Baloch (PS-126), Mohammad Rafiq Baloch (PS-127), Sarfraz Raja and Sohrab Marri were among the petitioners told to move tribunals. The petitions moved by Mirza Ikhtiar Beg (NA-150) and Syed Najmi Alam of the PPP and Salim Zia of the PML(N) were, meanwhile, adjourned to March 4.

The petitions moved by MQM’s K.S. Mujahid Baloch, Sardar Khan, Sheikh Mohammad Feroz, Salahuddin and Ashfaq Ahmed Mangi were also adjourned to March 4.

The petition moved by PPP’s Aftab Shaban Mirani against the unofficial election of Dr Ebrahim Jatoi of the National People’s Party was re-fixed for hearing on March 4. It was earlier reserved for order. The stay granted in favour of the petitioner was extended.

The bench, which consists of Justices Azizullah M. Memon and Arshad Noor Khan, also issued notices to the respondents for March 4 in a petition moved by PPP’s Habib Memon against the election of MQM’s Farooq Sattar from NA-239.

Meanwhile, a division bench comprising Justices Mrs Yasmin Abbasy and Dr Qamaruddin Bohra stayed the auction of seven plots and bungalows belonging to the directors of the defunct Alliance Motors. Petitioner Sikandar Karim and others claimed that the properties were their personal properties and were not purchased with the funds of Alliance Motors.

The Sindh High Court also issued notices on Friday in a petition seeking enforcement of the traffic and environmental laws and rules in the city.

Petitioner-lawyer Qazi Ali Akhtar submitted that thousands of auto rickshaws, buses, contract carriages, mini-buses, taxis and pick-ups were plying in Karachi without formal compliance of legal requirements about their fitness. Most of them emitted smoke and caused noise pollution.

He sought directions for a complete ban on double stroke rickshaws, phasing out of old vehicles, installation of silencers and other noise control devices, compulsory manufacture or import of environment-friendly CNG buses for public transport and conversion of diesel-based motors into CNG-run engines. A division bench consisting of Justices Azizullah M. Memon and Arshad Noor Khan issued notices to the provincial transport department, the city district government, the environmental protection agency and the traffic police for a date to be fixed by office.