KARACHI, Jan 25: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a petition filed against the sale of Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation. The next hearing has been fixed for Feb 7 by SHC’s division bench, comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Mohammad Athar Saeed, after the request of petitioner’s counsel.

The KESC’s privatization was challenged by KESC labour union, and petitioners Ziaur Rehman, Hakimuddin and Shabbir Hussain Malik contended that the privatization was being carried out without prior approval of CCI and without its supervision and control, in violation of Article 154 of the Constitution.

The labour union contended that the Privatization Commission was kept in the dark about the exact terms and conditions regarding the sale of KESC to the reconstituted Hasan Associates and prayed the court to decide fairness and rationality of the PC’s action in the privatization process.

The petitioner termed the bidding process collusive and non-transparent and said unless petition is granted, it will defeat public interest and 20,000 employees of the KESC would be seriously prejudiced and would suffer hardship.

However, the PC said privatization process of KESC has not been conducted under any veil of secrecy and all major stakeholders in KESC were consulted and kept abreast of all major development at every stage.

The PC said full price US$ 265 million (Rs.15.90 billion) has already been received and 73 per cent shares of KESC, with management control, were transferred to reconstituted Hasan Associates. The respondents prayed the court to dismiss the petition.

SSP LEADER CASE: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a petition against detention of a leader of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan as provincial law officer sought time to file comments on behalf of provincial home department regarding detention of detainee.