SHC orders LG project director to file ‘adequate’ comments

The Sindh High Court directed the local government project director and others on Monday to file comments on a petition seeking an inquiry into alleged corruption in purchase of a snorkel by the provincial government.

Petitioner Zulfiqar Shah had submitted that the provincial government was buying a snorkel from local company at an excessive price.

The petitioner’s counsel, Nadeem Sheikh and Shoaun Nabi, submitted that the Punjab government had signed an agreement with a foreign company for the purchase of a snorkel fir Rs220 million whereas the Sindh government was buying one from a local company for Rs570 million.

The petitioner submitted that the purchase of a snorkel on such excessive price was illegal and requested the court to restrain the government from going ahead with the move.

The counsel for the local government project director filed comments over the petition. However, the court observed that comments seemed to be inadequate and did not appear to respond to the allegation raised in the petition.

On the question of maintainability raised by the respondent, the court observed that the allegation raised in the petition had yet to be established and no orders had been passed yet.

An SHC division bench headed by Justice Munib Akhtar directed the respondent’s counsel to submit the detailed comments and
adjourned the hearing till
January 2.