Govt’s comments sought on plea against justice of peace powers for DCs

The Sindh High Court on Monday directed the provincial law officer and others to file comments on a petition filed against conferring justice of peace powers to deputy commissioners.
Petitioner Zafar Ali Shah submitted that the provincial government had conferred justice of peace power to deputy commissioners to use state machinery against political opponents. He said transferring the power of registering FIRs from the police to the administration could be used for political victimisation and it would also make the Sindh police ineffective.
The provincial law officer sought time to file comments on the petition. The court directed the government to file comments on the petition and adjourned the hearing. The next hearing date will be fixed by the court office.  
Detention cases
The SHC directed the federal and provincial law officers to file comments on petitions filed against the detention of citizens allegedly by personnel of the law enforcement agencies.
Petitioners Zobia and Farhana submitted that the police and the law enforcement agencies had picked up Anwarul Haq and Mairajuddin from F B Area and Al-Falah areas, respectively, and their whereabouts were still unknown.
They submitted that neither the police were disclosing details of any cases against them nor they were being produced before a court of law. The court also issued notices to the IG Sindh and others on a petition filed against illegal detention of Faizan Khan, Ashan and others who were allegedly picked up from Liqauatabad, Gulistan-e-Johar and Korangi areas.