KARACHI, April 24: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the director general of the Rangers and managing director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to shift the Muslimabad hydrant to some other area within a month.
The bench comprising Justice Ms Yasmin Abbassey and Justice Dr Rana Mohammad Shamim issued the directive on a petition filed by a woman resident of Muslimabad, Ruth Sami Ahmed. She submitted to the court that shuttling of water tankers with leaking nozzles between the hydrant and different areas of the city had ruined the roads and streets falling in the proximity of Muslimabad.
She prayed that the movement of water tankers had also created unhygienic conditions, traffic hazards and air and noise pollution, besides depriving the residents of the area of their privacy.Coordinator of the KWSB’s Water Tanker Services informed the court that the Sindh government had already asked the board to take control of the water tanker services in Karachi from the Rangers. He stated that the Muslimabad hydrant would be closed within 10 days.
Advocate Syed Sami Ahmed appeared for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General-II Imran Ahmed appeared for the respondents.
Plea for protection
A division bench of Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the advocate general to provide protection to a petitioner, and issued notices to the AG and the provincial police officer. It also asked the National Accountability Bureau (Nab) to file comments on May 7 regarding the petitioner’s claim.
The bench issued the directives while hearing an application filed by the petitioner, Amir Khan Kundi, about his constitutional petition on the alleged embezzlement of Rs65 million in the irrigation department, Kotri Barrage. He claimed that the embezzlement was committed through fake scheduled rates devised in 2000 on the pretext of development works. He contended that despite approaching the relevant authorities, including the National Accountability Bureau, no action against those responsible had been taken yet.
He said that since he had pointed out the embezzlement, he and his family were facing death threats from some influential figures and, therefore, he and his family should be provided security.
The bench comprising Justice Azizullah M. Memon and Justice Khalid Ali Z. Kazi asked the AG to provide protection to the petitioner, and sought comments from the ADPG of Nab.
Poll petition
The appellate tribunal comprising Justice Azizullah M. Memon of the Sindh High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Provincial Election Commission and others while hearing an appeal filed by Ashfaq A. Mangi, who contested polls for PS-90 (Karachi) on an MQM ticket. The hearing was adjourned till May 13.
Mr Mangi has accused his PPP rival, Nadim Bhutto, of using unfair means to win the seat.—PPI
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