KARACHI, July 6: The Supreme Court has waived the costs imposed on a petitioner by the Sindh High Court for indulging in wastage of the court time.

Petitioner Haji Gul Ahmed had filed a petition in the SHC for directions to the city nazim and the city district government to act against the palmists, 'amils', spiritual healers and 'quacks' plying their business on pavements and other encroached public places.

He said the quacks claimed to foretell future events and their activities were un-Islamic. The high court dismissed his petition with costs amounting to Rs 10,000. His petition for leave to appeal against the dismissal order was heard at the Supreme Court's Karachi registry last week by a bench, comprising Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui and Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.

The bench observed after hearing the petitioner in person that "no definite finding in the exercise of constitutional jurisdiction could be given on the issues raised in the petition".

As regards encroachments and unlawful occupation of public places, the authorities were amply empowered to take necessary steps and no direction from any court was required.

About the practices described by the petitioner as being against the teachings of Islam, the CJ observed that what was required in this behalf was not a court order, but education of the people to raise the level of their awareness and to inculcate in them the true spirit of Islam by concerted efforts of the entire nation. Waiving the costs imposed by the impugned order, the SC bench refused the petitioner leave to appeal.