Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed Federal government to submit its reply by May 18, 2018 on the issue of giving National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) under the administrative control of Ministry of Human Rights.
Federal Government again sought time to submit its reply, which court granted binding that the government come up with its reply by May 18.
Civil society and human rights organizations challenged the act of the government to give NCHR under the administrative control of Ministry of Human Rights. Their lawyer Rasheed A Rizvi argued in the court that NCHR is an independent body under the law, but federal government gave it under the administrative control of Ministry of Human Rights after amending its rules of business. He contended that federal government cannot amend the rules of business contrary to the law. NHCR was constituted under the NCHR Act 2012, whose Section 16 guarantees the commission's independence.
Contrary to this act, Federal Ministry of Human Rights last year issued a circular, whereby Prime Minister approved new functions of the ministry by amending the rules of business which mandated the ministry's administrative control over NCHR.
The court had maintained stay order to allow NCHR to continue functioning in accordance with the relevant rulers including NHCR Act.
Meanwhile, Sindh High Court (SHC) issued the contempt of court notices to Sindh Chief Secretary and Secretary Education for not implementing its order to make first chapter of constitution of Pakistan part of syllabus in the province. It directed both officials to submit their replies for non-implementation of its order by May 16, 2018.
A petition was filed against provincial government in which petitioner pleaded that first chapter of the constitution of Pakistan is relevant to human rights so it should be made part of syllabus.
Sharjeel Memon's bail application
Hearing the bail petition of former provincial information minister Sharjeel Memon on Thursday, Sindh High Court (SHC) directed NAB and other relevant authorities to submit his medical report and their review on April 18.
The petitioner pleaded his health may be deteriorated if not granted bail because adequate medical facilities are not available in jail.
Sharjeel Memon along with other co-accused has been charged with Rs 5.76 billion embezzlement in national exchequer awarding advertisements of Sindh government to media houses.
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