Karachi:Sindh High Court (SHC) here adjourned the hearing of a constitutional petition against the Establishment of the Office of Ombudsman for the Province of Sindh (Amendment) Act.
According to details, Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor, making the province of Sindh through chief secretary and others respondents had submitted that respondent Chief Minister Sindh and their Government had targeted the Provincial Ombudsman office as it is the hurdle and check and balance office in the way of corrupt practices and mal-administration of the various departments under the government of Sindh and the affected people can easily approach for redressal of their grievances.
The respondent has targeted and jeopardized, and taken over the powers of the Governor for the appointment of the Provincial Ombudsman under the umbrella of Provincial Assembly by malafidely misusing the majority of political seats and representation in the Assembly without any debate and chance to opposition for objection and snatched and looted the powers of the governor for appointment of the impartial person in the Provincial Ombudsman office for check and balance and eradication of corruption and smooth function of the government office in line of duty and to redress the grievance of the general public who aggrieved by the act of the Government officers and government offices.
The Petitioner has prayed to declare the impugned Act, i.e. Establishment of the Office of Ombudsman for the Province of Sindh (Amendment) Act, 2020, as unconstitutional, illegal, void ab initio and of no legal effect.
He also prayed to restrain the Respondents, their servants, agents, subordinates and anybody else claiming through or under them not to implement the impugned Act, 2020, and also restrain them from proceeding further on the impugned Act, 2020. He further prayed to suspend the operation of the impugned Act, 2020, pending the final decision of this Hon’ble Court.
However, on Wednesday, a bench of SHC comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed directed the respondents to submit their reply by September 24 and adjourned the hearing.