KARACHI, Sept 18: The Sindh High Court asked its official assignee on Monday to invite fresh bids for the Thatta and Dadu sugar mills.
Allowing a provincial government application, SHC company judge Justice Khilji Arif Hussain directed the official assignee to take over the two mills, which are owned by the Sindh Sugar Corporation, and prepare inventories of their assets. The corporation is fully owned by the provincial government, which has moved a petition for its winding up under the Companies Ordinance.
Appearing for the applicant government, Additional Advocate-General M. Ahmed Pirzada submitted that the corporation had a number of creditors and compulsory winding up under judicial supervision was essential to protect their interests.
He said the corporation assets had been ordered to be sold by a banking court in execution of a decree granted by it in favour of one of the creditor banks.
The price obtained by the banking court in public bidding was abysmally low and the court be restrained from confirming the bid. While the decree obtained by one bank might be satisfied, other creditors would be left high and dry, the AAG submitted.
Justice Hussain asked the official assignee to submit a report within 45 days after inviting new bids for the corporation. He rejected the plea of the purchaser in the public auction conducted by the banking court to the first right of purchase in the fresh bidding.
The previous highest bidder would have the right to participate in the bidding as an ordinary bidder.
INSPECTION ORDERED: A division bench comprising Justices Mushir Alam and Mohammad Afzal Soomro, meanwhile, asked the SHC nazir to inspect a building in the Gulistan-i-Jauhar area in the jurisdiction of the Faisal Cantonment Board to examine a petitioner’s claim that it had been constructed in gross violation of the building rules and the board’s approval letter.
Petitioner Fateh Mohammad alleged through Advocate Abdul Jabbar Korai that a builder had raised a structure on plot number SB 52, Scheme 36, in violation of the law and rules.
The compulsory open space had been covered, the parking lot had been utilized for commercial purposes and no compound wall had been built as provided by the rules and the plan approved by the cantonment board. Appointing the nazir as commissioner for inspection, the bench adjourned further hearing to a date in office.
LANDGRABBING: The High Court of Sindh on Monday issued a notice to respondents for Sept 26 in a land grabbing case, adds APP.
A single bench comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain was hearing a constitution petition filed by Bachan Begum and others.
The petitioners have prayed for directives of court against alleged grabbing of land at Haji Natha Khan Khosa Goth situated opposite the Jinnah Terminal, Karachi airport.
The petition was filed against the Civil Aviation Authority and others.