SHC tells govt to explain transfers and postings ahead of LG polls

Karachi
The Sindh High Court issued notices to the advocate general, the chief secretary, the election commission and others on Saturday on a petition filed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement against the transfer and posting of government servants after the announcement of the local bodies elections schedule.
MQM leader Syed Sardar Ahmed submitted in the petition that the provincial government had ordered transfer and posting of many officers, particularly those working in bodies falling within the local government department – the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation – after the issuance of the polls schedule in violation of the election commission rules.
The petitioner added that the provincial election commissioner, despite several complaints, had not taken any action the provincial government’s steps. Ahmed submitted that the provincial government’s move was tantamount to pre-poll rigging as it was aimed at benefitting the candidates of the ruling party.
The court was requested to suspend the transfers and postings in the education department, the KWSB, the Sindh Building Control Authority, the KMC, and others and restrain the government from transferring government servants without the approval of the commission until the issuance of the election results.
The court issued notices to the Sindh advocate general, the chief secretary and others, seeking their comments on November 4.
Civil servants law
The high court issued notices to the chief secretary, the law secretary and others on a petition against the proposed amendments in the civil servants law. The petitioner, Rana Faizul Hasan, submitted that the government wanted to protect the officers who were transferred to different departments on deputation through introducing an amendment bill in the Civil Servants Act.
He added that the amendments were ultra vires to the Constitution and in violation of the Supreme Court orders which had struck down all appointments of government officers who were either inducted or absorbed from other departments.
He requested the court to declare the amended bill illegal and unconstitutional.

Plea for security
The high court issued notices to the home secretary, the IGP and others on a petition filed by a businessman seeking police security. The petitioner, Malik Shah Bukht Nasir, submitted that he was receiving threats from the Tehreek-e-Talban Pakistan for the last couple of years.
He said the TTP had demanded Rs5 million as extortion money from him and threatening to kill him if he did not pay.
He said the Peshawar High Court had also directed police to provide him with security but a few months, later his security was withdrawn.
He said visited different parts of the country and also travelled abroad for his business and requested the court to direct police and Rangers to provide him and his family with security.

Detention cases
The high court directed police and Rangers to file comments on petitions against the detention of citizens allegedly by the law enforcement agencies.
Petitioners Misbah Adil and Mohammad Ali Ahsan submitted that police and Rangers personnel took away Syed Adil Zafar and Mohammad Shahbaz Moazam from Mubina Town and North Karachi respectively and their whereabouts were unknown.