Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed the Sindh government to place on record the notifications de-notifying the ministerial portfolios of three more Sindh chief minister’s advisers in light of its judgment.

Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who headed a division bench, asked the provincial law officer to submit the details of emoluments paid to the advisers.

At the outset, Advocate General Zameer Ghumro submitted to the bench the two notifications regarding removal of the chief minister’s adviser on law Barrister Murtaza Wahab and other de-notifying him as chairman of the Board of Governors for law colleges.

He informed the judges that Wahab was willing to return the two month’s emoluments that he had drawn after the court’s judgment terming his appointment illegal.

Advocate Fareed Ahmed Dayo pointed out that three other advisers to the chief minister, including Senator Saeed Ghani, Asghar Junejo and Moula Bux Chandio were given the portfolios of labour and human resources, mines and mineral development and information department respectively on July 30, last year.

However, the government had not submitted the notifications taking away their portfolios and the details of emoluments paid to them after the court’s order.

Earlier, Dayo had filed an application seeking contempt of court proceedings against the provincial authorities for not removing Murtaza Wahab in violation of the court’s judgment.

He submitted that the court’s judgment was not being implemented as the law adviser was still continuing his service and attending cabinet meetings. He was also drawing salaries and perks for last two months even after his appointment had been declared illegal.

He, therefore, requested the judges to initiate contempt proceedings against the authorities concerned.

Earlier on Nov 22, the court had given a detailed verdict declaring the exercise of ministerial powers by the advisers as illegal.

It also declared the appointment of Murtaza Wahab as the adviser to the Sindh CM on law has been termed void and of no legal standing.

The bench had given this judgment on the petition filed by Dayo, who had challenged Wahab’s appointment and his ministerial portfolio.

Meanwhile, the bench gave more time to the provincial government to come up with its policy regarding provision of security to political leaders and other citizens.

The court adjourned the hearing until Feb 15 on the request of the advocate general Sindh.

It took up the petition filed by the PPP chairman seeking adequate security and permission to travel in a vehicle with tinted glasses and personal guards.

Bilawal had petitioned the high court seeking directives for the respondent authorities and law enforcement agencies to provide round-the-clock security cover in view of reports regarding serious threats to him.

The PPP’s chairman pleaded the court to direct the authorities to allow him to travel in a vehicle with tinted glasses along with his personal security guards with licensed arms while traveling or addressing public meetings throughout the country.

In the petition, Bilawal submitted that being the chairman of PPP he had to travel throughout the country for not only organising the PPP, but also for discharging public duties for the welfare and well-being of the people at large.

He submitted that apart from the fact that his mother Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a public meeting in Rawalpindi, he always had had apprehensions about his personal security as well as about the security of his family members because PPP leaders, including the petitioner, were receiving threats to their lives and properties from extremists and terrorists organisations.

Bilawal, represented by Advocate Akhtar Hussain, said that the law and order situation in the entire country was precarious and it was also evident from various instances of attacks and attempts to the life on different important personalities and some of them have lost their lives.

The counsel submitted that for the purpose of special security measures, the petitioner wanted to travel in a vehicle with tinted glasses along with his personal security guards whenever or wherever he travels.