KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday temporarily restrained the provincial government from purchasing 138 double-cabin vehicles for assistant commissioners across the province, for a period of four weeks.
A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, issued an interim order in response to a petition challenging a letter that sought funds from the finance department for the procurement of the vehicles. The court also issued notices to the Sindh chief secretary, finance secretary, Board of Revenue officials, and the advocate general, setting the next hearing after four weeks.
The petition was filed by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) MPA Mohammad Farooq and two others, contesting the letter dated September 3, from the services, general administration, and coordination department to the finance secretary. The letter requested nearly Rs2 billion for the purchase of 138 4×4 double-cabin vehicles for assistant commissioners in Sindh.
**JI Lawmaker Challenges Rs2 Billion Vehicle Procurement Plan**
Representing the petitioners, Advocate Usman Farooq argued that the letter seeking Rs1.99 billion for the vehicles was an inappropriate use of public funds, especially given the province’s budgetary deficits. He also pointed out that the majority of the province consisted of plain land, making the purchase of such vehicles unnecessary.
The petitioners requested a restraining order to prevent the government from acting on the letter, arguing that the allocation was unnecessary and constituted a misuse of public resources at a time when the country was facing severe financial challenges.
After a preliminary hearing, the bench directed: “Let notice be issued to the respondents as well as the Advocate General Sindh for a date to be fixed by the office after four weeks. In the meantime, official respondents are directed not to act upon the letter dated 3rd September, 2024, until the next hearing.”
The petitioners further argued that using nearly Rs2 billion from the provincial budget for vehicles for government officers was a clear disregard for public interest and fiduciary duties. They emphasized that the country was already struggling with inadequate healthcare, underfunded educational institutions, and deteriorating infrastructure, all of which required urgent financial support. Meanwhile, the federal government faced pressure to control fiscal deficits and enhance revenue through taxation.
The petitioners urged the SHC to declare the letter illegal, arbitrary, and unconstitutional, and to prevent the government from proceeding with the vehicle procurement.
