KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday suspended the work permit issued by the federal authorities to a private firm engaged in the construction work of an underpass near the Quaid’s mausoleum for the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) till May 31.

A private firm, Al-Noor Builders and Construction Hub limited, instituted a lawsuit in the SHC stating that the procedure of tendering for the construction of the underpass was non-transparent.

The lawyers for the plaintiff argued that the firm had offered the lowest bid, but the authorities concerned awarded the contract to another firm in violation of rules.

Read: Green line blues: Delays mar a major public transport project in Karachi

They submitted that the defendant construction firm was not qualified for the award of the contract for the construction work, but the authorities allegedly on the basis of nepotism awarded the contract.

They pleaded to suspend the work permit issued to the defendant firm.

Notices issued on plea for Sindh home minister’s disqualification

After hearing initial arguments, a single bench of the SHC issued notices to the federal authorities and other defendants till May 31.

In the meantime, the court also issued an interim restraining order in respect of the work permit issued to the defendant company.

Liaquat Jatoi gets protective bail

The SHC granted protective bail to former federal minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi in a corruption reference till June 12.

The former water and power minister, through his lawyer, moved an application seeking bail.

He submitted that the National Accountability Bureau had authorised its officials to file a corruption reference against him and others for illegally appointing Basharat Hassan Bashir as a consultant of the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB).

However, the applicant denied the allegations and his counsel argued that the decision to appoint Mr Bashir as consultant was taken by the board and the summary was approved by the then prime minister.

After a preliminary hearing, a two-judge bench granted him protective bail against a surety bond of Rs1 million till June 12 and also issued notice to NAB for the next hearing.

On May 23, NAB in an official statement said that its board had authorised officials to file a corruption reference against former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, Mr Jatoi, former establishment secretary Ismail Qureshi and others for illegally appointing Mr Bashir as a consultant of AEDB through blatant abuse of authority which allegedly caused a loss of nearly Rs21.6m to the national exchequer.

Plea for Siyal’s disqualification for holding iqama

The SHC issued notices to the election commission and other respondents on a petition seeking disqualification of Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal.

The petitioner, Allah Bux Unnar, submitted that the provincial minister was holding an iqama (work permit) of the United Arab Emirates.

His counsel argued that being employed by a foreign company and being a full-time salaried employee, the minister at the same time was also holding a high office and constituted a material, patent and permanent conflict of interest.

Therefore, the lawyer maintained that it is tantamount to violation of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution read with Sections 99(I)(f) of the Representation of People Act 1976.

The petitioner pleaded for disqualification of the minister from holding the public office of MPA and minister.

However, an additional advocate general argued that the petition would become infructuous within three days since the provincial government would complete its term on May 28.

A two-judge SHC bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar issued notices to the home minister, election commission and others for June 5.

Delay in prisoners’ biometric verification

Sindh Home Secretary Qazi Shahid Pervez informed the SHC that the biometric verification of prisoners at the Karachi Central Prison, Malir District Prison and Hyderabad Prison had been introduced.

However, he submitted that the process had not been completed yet due to a lack of cooperation on part of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

The bench directed Nadra officials to appear in court on July 4 and also issued notices to the federal and provincial law officers.

The petitioner submitted that certain convicted prisoners in connivance with the jail authorities had replaced themselves with their namesakes in prisons by paying them hefty amounts of cash.

He further submitted that the SHC had ordered the jail authorities in 2015 to put the biometric system in place for the verification of prisoners.

Fund for differently abled persons ordered

A division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar directed the Sindh cabinet to establish a fund for the rehabilitation of differently abled persons as required under Section 15 of the Sindh Differently Abled Persons (Employment, Rehabilitation and Welfare) Act, 2014 before the term of the provincial government ended.

The bench further directed the Sindh Information Department to publish notices through print and electronic media, including advertisements in news and entertainment channels, informing private establishments that five per cent of their employees must be differently abled persons.

It added that a separate publication should be done through print and electronic media in order to inform differently abled persons regarding the registration process.

Mohammad Amin and others filed a petition in the SHC and sought implementation of the Sindh Differently Abled Persons (Employment, Rehabilitation and Welfare) Act.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2018