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Sindh High Court Halts Purchase of 138 Costly Vehicles for Bureaucrats
The Sindh High Court has temporarily stopped the provincial government from procuring 138 double-cabin vehicles worth nearly Rs2 billion for assistant commissioners.
ND
by News Desk
2024-09-07
Sindh High Court Halts Purchase of 138 Costly Vehicles for Bureaucrats

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday issued a four-week restraining order against the provincial government's plan to procure 138 double-cabin vehicles for assistant commissioners (ACs) across the province.

 

The interim order was passed by a two-judge bench, including Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, following a petition challenging the procurement request. The petition was filed by Jamaat-i-Islami’s (JI) MPA Mohammad Farooq and two other petitioners, who questioned the legitimacy of a letter issued on Sept 3 by the services and general administration department to the finance secretary, requesting nearly Rs2 billion in funds for the vehicle purchase.

 

The petitioners, represented by Advocate Usman Farooq, argued that allocating such a significant amount for expensive vehicles was a misuse of public resources, especially amid the province's ongoing budget deficits. They also noted that much of Sindh consists of plain terrain, making the acquisition of 4x4 vehicles unnecessary.

 

After a preliminary hearing, the SHC instructed the government not to act on the letter until the next hearing, which will take place in four weeks. The petitioners also highlighted the dire state of critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, questioning the rationale behind spending on luxury vehicles when public services remain underfunded.

 

The court issued notices to the Sindh chief secretary, finance secretary, Board of Revenue officials, and the advocate general for further proceedings.
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