SHC seeks comments from interior secretary

Karachi

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday directed the interior ministry to file comments on a businessman’s petition against the placement of his name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Mohammad Hanif submitted that his name was placed on the ECL on the recommendation of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) though he was acquitted by an accountability court in a corruption reference in 2007. His counsel said his client wanted to perform Umrah and, when he was proceeding to Saudi Arabia he was informed that his name was on t he ECL but he was not told why that had been done. He said the travel ban against the petitioner was unjust and uncalled for, and prayed to the court to allow him to travel abroad.

The federal law officer sought time to file comments submitting that in case comments were not filed then the case may be decided on record available to the court.

A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam, took notice of the delay in filing comments on the petition despite repeated directives.

The bench observed that the interior ministry may act independently and decide whether the recommendation issued by any authority for the placement of the petitioner’s name on the ECL was worth consideration in accordance with the rules or otherwise.

Giving the last chance to the federal law officer, the bench observed that in case comments were not filed at the next hearing the cost not less than Rs50,000 would be imposed on the respondent that to be recovered from delinquent officers for not complying with the court directives. It then directed the law officer to file comments within two weeks.

Irrigation system

A provincial law officer informed the SHC that the federal government had allocated Rs150 million for revamping and rehabilitating the irrigation system in Sindh.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Nawaz Hamid against the non-supply of water to his 165-acre farms by the irrigation department.

He said Bund Murad Jamali, from where water was supplied to his farms, was not properly being maintained and water was allowed to be stolen in connivance with irrigation department officials.

The court on October 12 had ordered Secretary Finance to file report as to withholding of funds for revamping or rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage in the Sindh.

Additional Advocate General Adnan Karim Memon produced a letter from the finance secretary informing that Rs150 million out of a total amount of Rs200 million had been received from the federal government and the balance amount would be released soon as per policy.

Adjourning the matter, the court directed the law officer to submit the compliance report regarding the revamping of the irrigation and drainage system in the province.

Plea for transfer of case

The SHC directed the prosecutor general of Sindh to file comments on an application seeking the transfer of a murder trial from a sessions court.

Zaheer Ahmed submitted that his brother-in-law Abdul Wahid along with Wahid’s father Abdul Khaliq were involved in the murder of his sister Nasreen in the Manghopir area.

He alleged that the main accused was first denied bail but the additional district and sessions judge (West) granted him bail. He sought the transfer of the trial of the case and cancellation of the bail of the accused. The court directed the prosecutor general to file comments after perusal of the police papers.

Posted in: Karachi News