SHC forms medical board to examine BSEK chief Anwar Zai

The Sindh High Court on Friday constituted a medical board to examine the health of the under-detention chairman of the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK), Anwar Ahmed Zai.

The court also asked the board to submit their observation on whether the matric board chief could be kept in prison or he needed to be treated in hospital. 

The direction came on petition of Anwar Ahmed Zai, who had moved the court against his arrest in a NAB reference pertaining to illegal appointments in the Mirpurkhas board during his tenure as chairman from 2004 to 2007.

NAB officials alleged that Zai had appointed seven persons on grade 16 and above without any advertisement of the posts.

Seeking post-arrest bail for the matric board chief, his counsel denied the allegation and submitted that all the appointments were made on a merit basis, following the rules and the procedure. The counsel also sought constitution of medical board to examine the health of the petitioner, submitting that his client was a cardiac patient and required medical treatment.

The court directed the secretary health to constitute a medical board for examining the health of the petitioner, which shall give its opinion after examination as whether the petitioner could be adequately treated in prison without any danger to his life.

The NAB’s prosecutor had earlier filed comments before the SHC, submitting that the petitioner did not come before the court with clean hands. He had also filed a petition to circumvent the normal process of the criminal proceedings.

He submitted that the accountability court took cognizance of the matter; hence, the petitioner was not entitled to any relief.

BSEK Chairman Anwar Ahmed Zai was arrested by NAB on charges of corruption, illegal appointments and out-of-turn promotions. He was alleged to have committed the crimes during his time as chairman of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi and in-charge of examination boards in Mirpurkhas.

According to a NAB official, Zai would also be investigated for result tempering during his time at different boards and centres. Zai served as deputy director and district education officer Mirpurkhas; in 1990 he was appointed director education Karachi. He then went on to serve as additional secretary education, Sindh, additional secretary development finance and planning, and additional secretary academics.

Encroachment removal 

The Sindh High Court on Friday ordered removal of encroachment and rubble from the Jahangir Park, situated in Saddar area.

The direction came on petitions of the Rah-e-Raast Trust and others, challenging encroachment at the Jahangir Park.

The court was informed that rubble and debris were still lying in the park, despite the court’s order for beautification of the park.

Seeking implementation of the court’s order, the petitioners also submitted that the traffic jams also occurred due to encroachments built at surroundings of the park.

The court directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to ensure removal of encroachment and debris from the park and submit a compliance report on October 19.