Haqiqi moves court for permission to hold public gathering

The Sindh High Court on Monday issued notices to the Karachi commissioner, the home department and others on a petition filed by the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) seeking permission to hold a public meeting at the city’s Nishtar Park.

The MQM-H submitted in its petition that the authorities concerned were not granting permission to hold a public gathering at Nishtar Park while other political parties had been allowed to hold public gatherings at the same place.

The party submitted that police and other authorities had been asking the MQM-H leadership to postpone the gathering due to security threats. The MQM-H counsel submitted that every political party had a right to hold public gatherings and carrying out political activities. He said the denial of such political rights was a violation of the country’s law and its constitution.

He requested the court to direct the relevant authorities to grant permission for holding a public gathering at Nishtar Park to the MQM-H. The court directed the Sindh advocate general, the city commissioner and others to submit their comments on August 28 in this regard.

MPAs plea

The SHC also directed the provincial law officer and the finance department to file comments on a petition filed by opposition members of the provincial assembly against non-allocation of funds for their constituencies.

Petitioner Rafiq Bhanban and Rashid Shah submitted in their petitions that they were had been MPAs from the Khairpur district, but the government was discriminating in release of funds for uplift schemes.

They said people of their constituents were being meted out unjust treatment in terms of release of withholding funds for development schemes in their areas only because of their political affiliation with opposition parties. They submitted that the local authorities had approved uplift projects but their execution couldn’t have been made possible because of shortage of funds.

They requested to the court to direct the provincial government to release funds for the approved development schemes.