KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday issued notices to the provincial authorities on a petition of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan challenging the creation of Keamari district and district municipal corporation.

The two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar observed that the petitioners had basically challenged the notifications of Oct 28 and Nov 11, issued by the local government department to create a new district and district municipal corporation Keamari.

The bench put the Sindh chief secretary, the secretary for local government and a section officer of the local government department as well as the assistant advocate general on notice for Dec 23.

Four MPAs of the MQM-P through their counsel moved the SHC and contended that it was not an administrative decision, but an attempt to divide the city on ethnic lines and strengthen the political position of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.

They further maintained that under the revenue laws, it was mandatory to hold a public hearing before creating a new district and contended that the move was unconstitutional and illegal.

Asks federal, provincial law officers for assistance in NICVD petition against FIA

The petitioners sought direction for respondents to withdraw/cancel both impugned notifications as well as distribution of resources, assets and liabilities between the DMC West and DMC Keamari.

Initially, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA from Karachi Aamir Liaquat Hussain had petitioned the SHC against the Sindh government for carving a new district out of Karachi and contended that it was done in violation of the law and proper procedure had also not been followed.

NICVD’s plea against FIA

Another division bench of the SHC on Thursday issued notices to the top federal and provincial law officers on a petition of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) executive director against the Federal Investigation Agency for investigating affairs of the provincial health facility.

The bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha directed the attorney general of Pakistan and advocate general of Sindh to assist it on Jan 6.

It also directed the FIA director (Sindh) and the investigation officer of FIA to ensure their attendance at the next hearing with relevant record.

The bench observed that the main issue was whether the FIA had the authority to investigate affairs of the NICVD, a provincial health facility, and asked the federal and provincial law officers to assist it in determining the status of the hospital whether it came under the purview of the provincial or federal government in view of the 18th Amendment.

Meanwhile, the bench also extended its earlier interim order for not taking any coercive action against the petitioner and executives and offices of the health facility till next hearing.

The petitioner contended that the FIA had issued a notice on Sept 22 to the management of the hospital about an inquiry and argued that it had no jurisdiction to inquire into affairs of the hospital which was under the administrative control of the provincial government

He further submitted that National Accountability Bureau and other investigative bodies had already been conducting similar inquires and the required documents had also been provided to them.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2020