Daily Times

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday dismissed plea seeking disqualification of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders Faryal Talpur, Manzoor Wassan, Sohail Anwar Siyal and Nasir Shah in a case related to holding work permit (Iqama).

A petition had been filed in the Sindh High Court against the key PPP leaders Faryal Talpur, Manzoor Wasan, Nasir Hussain Shah, Sohail Anwar Siyal and others for allegedly holding work permits of a foreign country and not disclosing it in their nomination papers for elections.

The Sindh High Court had sought concluding arguments on identical petitions regarding disqualifications of the PPP leaders Faryal Talpur, and others for allegedly holding Iqamas (work permits) of certain countries till January 14.

In prior hearing, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had submitted a one-page reply which the court had refused it and expressed its annoyance and argued that there was nothing in the short reply.

The court directed the ECP to submit a detailed response instead of a one-page reply. During hearing of the case, the bench remarked that lack of interests of the plaintiffs have proven that how interested are they in the matter.

Separately, the SHC on Monday directed the government to submit its reply over fresh elections of local councils in the province by April 15.

A bench of the high court resumed hearing of a petition seeking court order on local bodies polls in the province The court during the case proceedings ordered the government to inform clearly when it is going to hold the local council elections adding that the reply of the provincial government over the matter is essential.

The government sought time for submission of its reply over the matter. The bench ordered Sindh government to submit its reply and adjourned further hearing of the case till April 15.

On Monday Haseeb Jamali advocate submitted his advocacy papers from Larkana and Ghotki. Provincial chief secretary, chief election commissioner and secretary Election Commission of Pakistan have made party in the petition. It is to be mentioned here that the four-year tenure of present local councils will come to an end on August 30, 2020.

Petitioner said that the local bodies in Sindh had completed their four-year tenures in different cities and districts, including Karachi, but despite the completion of the term, the provincial government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) were not taking steps to hold the local bodies elections.