News
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Plea against electricity load shedding in KarachiSHC issues notices to Power Ministry, WAPDA, NEPRA, KESC officials
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) Wednesday issued notice to Secretary Water and Power Ministry, Chairman WAPDA, Chairman NEPRA and Managing Director (MD) of Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) on applications seeking direction from power utility to stop load shedding during night hours in Karachi.
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam, was hearing miscellaneous applications seeking direction for KESC management to stop load shedding after 10:00pm, moved by Syed Iqbal Kazmi, who already filed a main petition against unannounced load shedding. He impleaded Secretary Water and Power Ministry, Chairman WAPDA, Chairman NEPRA and MD KESC as respondents.
Kazmi contended the KESC was getting 1330 MW electricity from WAPDA and Karachi Nuclear Power Plant in addition to power generated and supplied by gas turbines at Bin Qasim power plant and private power generation sources. Industries, commercial business centres, markets are normally closed till 10:00pm. Yet, the KESC was resorting to prolonged power outages in residential areas, which was unlawful.
He stated under terms and conditions of privatisation agreement, the KESC management was duty bound to supply smooth electricity to its commercial and domestic consumers as per good standards. He stated the government sold precious KESC at throwaway rate of Rs 11 billion despite fact that it was worth Rs 250 billion.
He prayed to direct respondents not to carry out load shedding after 10:00pm in the city. It was also urged to direct the Sindh government and the KESC management to produce privatisation agreement.
The SHC division bench after hearing issued notice to respondents and adjourned hearing to a date in office. SHC calls record of forex scam case: The SHC Wednesday directed Federal Law Officer to submit a record of deposition made before a trial court hearing a forex scam case of three directors of Khanani & Kalia International (KKI), foreign exchange company.
A division bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, also issued notice to Secretary Interior Ministry, Federal Investigation Agency’s Director General, Director Karachi Region and Superintendents of Central Prison and Malir District Prison Karachi.
Deputy Attorney General Ashiq Raza filed a revision application under section 435 and 339-A CrPC on behalf of state, challenging acquittal of accused Muhammad Hanif Kalia, Muhammad Munaf Kalia, Javed Khanani, Atif Aziz Polani and bank officers in a case pertaining to alleged illegal transfer of billions of rupees abroad.
Banking Court at Karachi on March 4, 2011 acquitted Hanif Kalia, Munaf Kalia, Javed Khanani, Directors of KKI, with co-accused Atif Aziz Polani, Syed Masood Abbas, Syed Wajahat Ali, Tasleem Ahmed and Arifur Rehman in case (FIR 76/2008) registered at PS FIA Crime Circle under section 23 of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 RW Sections 7, 8, 20 of Pakistan Electronic Crime Ordinance 2007 RW Sections 420, 467, 471, 477-A & 34 PPC.
DAG Raza submitted that trial court erred in appreciating evidence brought on record by prosecution, which was enough to prosecute all accused, but trial court acquitted them. He prayed to call record of proceedings from trial court and set aside their acquittal after examining the case. It was also urged to set aside impugned judgment passed by trial court, acquitting all accused and remand back court so that they could be sentenced. On Wednesday, FIA Deputy Director Syed Israr Ali appeared with DAG Ashiq Raza, who requested for time to file record of deposition before trial court. Granting time, SHC division bench adjourned hearing to a date in office.
Meanwhile, same bench issued notice for June 5, 2011 to Secretary Interior Ministry, FIA Director General, Director Karachi Region and Superintendents of Central Prison and Malir District Prison Karachi.
Harassment of freewill couple by police: The SHC Wednesday issued a notice to Advocate General Sindh, Prosecutor General Sindh and respondents on alleged harassment of freewill couple by police.
Petitioner Hamida submitted that she married on her own freewill to her cousin Bilawal after solemnising a freewill affidavit before Justice of Peace at Karachi. She stated this annoyed her father, Taj Muhammad, who allegedly got implicated her husband and his family members in a false case of her kidnapping registered at Moro police station.
She submitted police, who were conducting raids to arrest them and prayed to quash the false criminal case, were harassing them. SHC division bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, issued notice to AG Sindh, PG Sindh and respondents for June 9, 2011. Till then police officials were restrained from causing arrest of petitioner’s husband and other accused persons named in FIR. PPI
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk