KARACHI, March 17: The Sindh High Court adjourned on Wednesday the hearing of a petition seeking a 'security cover' for PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto on her return to enable the petitioner to establish his legal status.

Advocate Shafqat Ali Shah Masoomi had filed the petition as 'honorary secretary of the international commission for human rights'. When his petition came up for hearing before a division bench, comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice S. Ali Aslam Jafri, he was asked to argue on his locus standi to maintain the petition.

The lawyer had not mentioned the month or date of the PPP leader's likely return nor sought a direction on the matter. He had requested the court to issue a writ to the federal government and its departments and agencies to provide her security and ensure her safety on return from exile.

The bench wanted the petitioner to inform it in what capacity he was seeking the directions. He was asked to show that he or his organization were competent under Article 199 of the Constitution to maintain the petition.

The lawyer sought time to make his submissions on the court query and the bench adjourned the hearing to a date to be fixed by the office.