KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has put off the hearing of a petition filed by Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar seeking devolution of Sindh Solid Waste Management Board from provincial government to local government.
Headed by Justice Munib Akhtar a division bench adjourned the hearing due to the absence of Advocate General Sindh Zameer Ghumro.
During previous hearing the petitioner’s lawyer Faroogh Nasim contended that the apex court had ordered SSWMB’s devolution to local governments four months ago but its directives have not been complied with yet. “The provincial government is violating Article 140-A of the constitution of by not authorizing the local governments,” he added.
City Mayor Waseem Akhtar had petitioned the high court, submitting that the board was created under Sindh Solid Waste Management Board Act, 2014 with functions to the needs of general public.
He quoted the Supreme Court’s order in which it had ordered the devolution of the board to local bodies under the rules of business in view of its below par performance. The petitioner maintained that despite the directives of the apex court steps were not being taken to transfer the SSWMB to the elected local representatives.
He pleaded to the judges to direct the authorities concerned to transfer all the assets falling under the umbrella of the Solid Waste Management Board Act, 2014 to the local government institutions.
The court was further requested to direct the respondents to give complete details of all the funds, which they had received for the purpose of solid waste management, how the same were spent, and to appoint a reputable auditor to find the facts.
Published in Daily Times, August 2nd , 2017.