KARACHI, Feb 22: The Sindh High Court has admitted writ petitions challenging the Wage Board and Newspapers Employees Act 1973 and extended stay against the chairman, ITNE, says a press release issued by the All Pakistan Newspapers Society on Tuesday.

Three constitutional petitions, relating to the Newspaper Employees Act and the Seventh Wage Board Award, came up for motion hearing before a bench of the Sindh High Court consisting of Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad and Justice Maqbool Baqar.

A petition filed by Herald Publications Ltd and Jang Group levels allegation of personal bias against the chairman, ITNE, Javed Gandapur. The petitioners have also moved an application for contempt of court against Mr Gandapur.

The court had earlier issued a contempt notice but on Tuesday an application was filed on behalf of Mr Gandapur for adjournment on grounds of illness. The bench directed him to file his comments within three weeks and also to be personally present on the next date.

Two other constitutional petitions challenge the Newspaper Employees Act, 1973 and the other to the Wage Board Award for being ultra vires of constitution and devoid of any legal validity. It has been prayed that the act be struck down as violative of fundamental rights and the award being a nullity and itself violative of fundamental rights.

The petitioners were represented by Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Mohammad Afzal Siddiqi, Mohammad Ali Mazhar and Munir Malik and respondents by Rasheed A Rizvi, advocate. The government of Pakistan was represented by Deputy Attorney General. -PPI