Appointment of administrators

Appointment of administrators
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Sindh government, the Election Commissioner of Pakistan and others on a petition against the proposed appointment of administrators to run the local bodies’ affairs in the province. A representative of the Al-Khidmat Group and former presiding officer of the City Council, Muslim Pervez, submitted that the term of local governments including the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) expired in October 2009 and since then neither was any election conducted by the Election Commissioner of Pakistan (ECP) nor any announcement was made in this regard.He said that the government wanted to nominate administrators of its own choice in place of Nazims which would be amounted to violation of the SLGO as the ECP was bound to discharge its duty without fear and favour.It was submitted that the Sindh provincial assembly though in session, no legislation was seen to be done with regard to the Ordinances declared void by the supreme court specifically the SLGO 2001, which ceased on December 31 last year. He said that the CDGK and other local governments were working unlawfully and non-holding of fresh elections by the ECP was amount to deprive the people of the province from their right of franchise. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the provincial government could not appoint administrators to run the affairs of the local governments rather the present set-up could run the affairs till the elections were arranged by the ECP.The court was prayed to declare that the local governments, after the lapse of their respective tenure, were functioning illegally and direct the ECP to arrange for holding elections as required under the law. The petitioner also prayed the court to restrain the government from appointing administrators in the entire province.The SHC’s division bench observed that since the tenure of the local governments has been expired and election was overdue. Issuing notices to Chief Secretary, Secretary Local Governments, the Election Commissioner and others the court directed the respondents to file comments within ten days.Petition against disqualification: The Sindh High Court (SHC), on a petition against the disqualification of a candidate of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to allocate election symbol to him. The petitioner, Sadiq Ali Memon, assailed the election tribunal order against his disqualification from contesting the by-election of PS-84, Thatta. Petition for judges’ appointment: The Sindh High Court (SHC) adjourned hearing of a petition seeking immediate appointment of high court judges against permanent vacancies. The court was informed that the identical nature of petition was pending in the supreme court, therefore, the matter may be adjourned till the order of the supreme court.