KARACHI, Jan 29: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Tuesday reserved its judgment in petitions challenging leasing out of the Lakhra Power Generation Company, Jamshoro, for announcement on March 4.
Attorney-General Malik Mohammad Qayyum argued on behalf of the federation besides Advocate Abdul Mujib Pirzada, Shahid Hamid and other lawyers. The bench consisted of Justices Munib Ahmed Khan and Syed Pir Ali Shah. The case has been remanded by the Supreme Court for early decision.
The coal-based power producer in the public sector suffered a huge loss in its electricity generation capacity. It had to close down two units producing 50 megawatts each and the third unit was running at half its capacity, that is, 25 megawatts. The federal government and the Water and Development Authority decided to induct private capital to revitalise the project and bids were invited. The contract was awarded to M/s AG Green Associates.
The deal was challenged by the ailing concern’s employees union and a rival bidder. The employees said it did not protect their interests and that it amounted to privatisation without due process. Neither the federal cabinet nor the council of common interests nor even the privatisation commission was involved. Wapda had no authority under the law to transfer its units to private investors.
Another power-related case regarding the privatisation of the Qadirpur gas compression project was adjourned to March 11.
ITNE restrained
A division bench comprising Justices Qaiser Iqbal and Mahmood Alam Rizvi restrained the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees from taking any coercive measure to implement the seventh wage award for newspaper employees.
An application saying that the ITNE had started issuing notices to newspaper organizations, warning them of punitive measures if they failed to implement the wage award was moved by the All Pakistan Newspapers Society in its pending petition.
APNS counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzada and Abdus Sattar Pirzada submitted that the society had questioned the legality not only of the award but also of the law, the Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, under which it was announced. Yet the implementation tribunal had initiated measures to implement the impugned award.
The bench issued notices to the respondents for Feb 20 and restrained the ITNE in the meantime.
Exemption for law offices
The bench constituted by Justices Munib A. Khan and Pir Ali Shah suspended the order of a single judge restraining a lawyer from operating his office in a housing society on the main Tipu Sultan Road and issued notices to the respondents for Feb 15.
Advocate Haider Imam Rizvi argued on behalf of Advocate Zuilfiqar Ahmad Khan that law chambers could not be equated with commercial undertakings. Besides, Tipu Sultan Road had been commercialised and many commercial organisations had their offices on it.
Karachi Building Control Authority counsel Shahid Jamil Khan submitted that the legal and medical professionals had been allowed to use part of their residences for providing their services.
Kidnapping case
Justice Khawaja Naveed Ahmed of the Sindh High Court and also Administrative Judge of the Anti-Terrorism Courts for Karachi division on Tuesday remanded two accused in the custody of the Anti-Violence and Crime Unit till Feb 6 in a kidnapping for ransom case, adds APP.
Earlier, the accused Adnan and Rizwan with their accomplice Aamir intercepted a car in which Kashif Abdul Aziz and Younus were travelling. They left Aziz injured, abandoned Kashif after firing at him and took away Younus.
The accused demanded a ransom of Rs250,000 from Younus, who negotiated with them to buy time and agreed to pay Rs80,000.
He took the accused to his home where area people on suspicion surrounded the place and after beating the two accused handed them over to the AVCU.
The AJ perusing the remand papers allowed the request remanding the accused to physical custody till Feb 6.