SHC dismisses urgent plea on sugar price

Karachi: Sindh High Court dismissed application for urgent hearing of a petition that sought court injunction for selling sugar at the retail price of Rs40 per kilogram.

The court observed that there is no urgency to entertain the petition as the matter is already seized in Supreme Court. Petitioner Maulvi Iqbal Haider challenged that sugar price in the province, which is being sold at more than Rs50 per kg despite the order of Lahore High Court that fixed the retail price of sugar at Rs40 per kg.

He submitted that All Pakistan Sugar Mills Association and Sindh Sugar Dealers Association had stocked more than 2 million tons sugar but they were not releasing the commodity for general public owing to low profit, saying, during the beginning of this year the ex-mill price was more than Rs28 per kg. He said that prior to the advent of Ramzan the respondent dealers had concealed sugar with mala fide intention just to take extra profit from the general public and suddenly sugar prices rose up to Rs.45 per kg throughout the country, which was a clear violation of Competition Commission of Pakistan Ordinance.

The petitioner submitted that Supreme Court upheld the judgment of Lahore High Court regarding fixation of Rs40 retail price for sugar and the said order should be implemented in entire Sindh in letter and spirit forthwith, as the people of Sindh were purchasing sugar at more than Rs50 per kg. After conducting preliminary hearing of the petition, the court observed that there is no urgency in the petition as the matter has also been taken up by Supreme Court, and dismissed the application for urgent hearing.

Petition against irregularities in Revenue Department: Sindh High Court called comments from Advocate General Sindh on a petition against irregularities in Revenue Department.

Employees of Revenue Department sent a letter to chief justice regarding the appointment of Mukhtiarkars in violation of rules and regulation. Petitioners submitted that the Mukhtarikar posts are being filled through direct appointments without Sindh Public Service Commission’s test. The court converted the letter into petition and issued notice to AG for comments.

Petition against harassment: Sindh High Court issued notices to Advocate General Sindh on the petition of a woman against harassment of her family. Ms. Ayesha submitted that she converted to Islam and married Salman Baloch on August 28 but her family members being annoyed with the marriage registered a case against her spouse at Thatta police station. She prayed the court to quash the criminal proceedings as she has married out of her freewill. The court, issuing notice to AG, restrained police from taking coercive action against the couple.

KPT land case: Chief secretary filed his affidavit on government appeal against the order regarding lifting of ban on sub-lease and transfer of 130 acres land in Mai Kolachi area, submitting that the appeal was filed with his consent.

The court was hearing the appeal filed by Land Utilization Department, Board of Revenue against the single judge’s order.

The appellant submitted that single judge of SHC vacated the stay on disputed 130 acres land, allowing KPT Officers Housing Society to sub-lease and transfer as well as mutation of land merely in the light of minutes of chief secretary despite the fact that chief minister’s approval was not obtained for doing so.

Sindh government submitted that impugned order was based on undertaking in terms of minutes and it has prejudiced the case of appellant as the question of land ownership is yet to be decided and respondent will create third party interest due to modification in the status quo order of the land in question.

The court was prayed to set aside the single bench’s order and restore the status quo position of the land. SHC’s division bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mohammad Athar Saeed, after taking the affidavit on record, adjourned the hearing till Oct 10. Link...