Islands Development Authority Ordinance challenged in SHC
Islands Development Authority Ordinance challenged in SHC, notices issued. The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday issued notices to the federal and provincial governments on a petition challenging the formation of the Pakistan Islands Development Authority Ordinance 2020.
A two-judge bench directed the official respondents to furnish their comments by the next hearing on October 23.
The petitioner stated before the court that the ordinance promulgated by President Dr. Arif Alvi on August 30 is illegal and unconstitutional. The federal government couldn’t undertake projects on the islands, Bundle and Buddo, along the Karachi coast, which fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the Sindh province, by establishing the authority, he said
The court was pleaded to declare the ordinance unlawful and unconstitutional.
On August 30, the president had promulgated the ordinance for establishing the Pakistan Islands Development Authority for the “development and management of islands in internal and territorial waters of Pakistan.”
However, the Sindh government on Tuesday withdrew its July 6, 2020 letter in which the Land Utilization Department had consented to the federal government to take custody of both islands.
“That due to this illegal, unconstitutional and malafide act of the Federal Government, the Sindh Cabinet has decided not to engage with the Federal Government for the purpose of developing the Island and consequently the letter dated 06.07.2020 of Government of Sindh, Land Utilization Department is treated as a nullity,” the department said in a letter withdrawing the previous one.
The federal government on Tuesday rejected the opposition of the Pakistan People’s Party PPP -led Sindh government over the promulgation of the Island Development Authority as Minister for Ports and Shipping Ali Zaidi shared a NOC for the Bundle Island issued by the provincial government.
No unconstitutional steps have been taken on Bundal Island, he said while also asserting that the island comes under the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) domain.
The federal minister said that they have no issue if Bilawal Bhutto has announced to approach court over the Island ordinance. “Whenever any step is being for the progress of the country, they start raising a hue and cry over the matter.”
