KARACHI: A petition was filed in the Sindh High Court on Monday against a recently passed bill that empowered the chief minister to appoint provincial ombudsman.

The petitioner contended that the powers of the governor were taken over by the chief minister under the umbrella of provincial assembly for appointment of an impartial person in the provincial ombudsman office for check and balance and eradication of corruption as well as smooth function of the provincial government office in line of duty and to redress the grievances of the public aggrieved by acts of the government officers.

The petition was filed by the Pasban Democratic Party through its president and submitted that the Establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman for the Province of Sindh (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed on Jan 8.

The petitioner further argued that since the theme of the provincial ombudsman was to eradicate corruption and maladministration among the office of the Sindh government, if the chief executive of the province appointed the head then how such a person could be in a position not to acknowledge the favour?

The petitioner pleaded that the impugned bill be declared unconstitutional and illegal and sought directive for the governor not to turn the impugned bill into an act.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2020