Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday restrained the provincial government from giving possession of 3200 acres mining lease to Lakhra Coal Mining Company (LCMC). A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar issued the restraining order on the petition of Sagar Ujjan, who moved the court by challenging giving 3200 acres mining lease to the Lakhra Coal Mining Company by the caretaker government without bidding.
The counsel of the petitioner stated that the caretaker Chief Minister in the last interim setup had no power to grant lease under section 230 of the Election Act, 2017. Besides, the lease of huge mining area has been given without bidding as provided under the law, the counsel submitted and stated caretaker Chief Minister violated law by granting lease without bidding.
Besides, there was no approval of the cabinet for handing over 3200 acres mining lease, the counsel stated. He told the court that mining has not started yet in the said area. The division bench fixed the hearing of the petition on 22nd November, 2018 and restrained the provincial government from handing over possession to the Lakhra Coal mining Company owned by Sindh government.