KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday issued notices to chief sectary, local government department and other respondents on a petition impugning the appointment of the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry and Justice Jawad Akbar Sarwana also put a provincial law officer on notice for Sept 12.

Citing the chief secretary, local government secretary, SBCA DG and others as respondents, a regular litigant approached the SHC and challenged a notification issued in March regarding appointment of Abdul Rasheed Solangi as SBCA chief.

Petitioner Tariq Mansoor submitted that the impugned appointment was made in blatant violations of SBCA Regulation, 2016 as well as the Sindh Building Control Ordinance, 1979.

SHC gives time to KE, Karachi mayor to file comments on plea against collection of MUCT via power bills

He also contended that the post in question was purely a “technical” position while Mr Solangi, a BS-21 officer, lacked required technical qualifications or expertise and education as per set criteria.

The petitioner asked the SHC to declare the impugned notification unlawful, arbitrary and ultra vires of various provisions of relevant law and regulations and set aside all the actions taken by the present DG.

It may be recalled that last week, another division bench of SHC had held that the SBCA chief was apparently appointed in violation of legal principles and restrained him from exercising his authority for 10 days.

Comments sought on plea against MUCT collection

Another bench of SHC on Tuesday granted 10-day time to K-Electric and Karachi mayor to file comments on a petition impugning imposition of the Municipal Utility Charges and Taxes (MUCT) in powers bills.

Leader of the Opposition in the City Council Advocate Saifuddin petitioned the SHC and state that the actions of respondents in outsourcing the collection of MUCT to KE raised significant legal and ethical concerns.

When a two-judge bench headed by Justice Omar Sial took up the matter for hearing on Tuesday, lawyers have filed vakalatnamas (power of attorney) on behalf of the KE and mayor and sought more time to file comments.

The bench directed them to file the same in 10 days.

Earlier, the SHC had issued notices to the respondents and also directed the mayor to file a list of schools and hospitals under the control of the Karachi Municipal Corporation as well as present condition of such facilities.

The petitioner pleaded to declare imposition of MUCT as well as its inclusion in power bills as illegal and unconstitutional.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2024