Court bars Sindh govt from purchasing 138 SUVs for ACs

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday barred the provincial government to purchase 138 double-cabin vehicles for Assistant Commissioners (ACs), ARY News reported.

Following the petition, filed by Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Muhammad Farooq, arguing that the purchase of SUVs is unnecessary and a waste of public funds.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court suspended the implementation of a Sindh government’s notification regarding the purchase of 138 double cabin vehicles for ACs.

The court in its order asked the provincial government, the chief secretary, the finance secretary, and the board of revenue to submit their responses within four weeks.

READ: Sindh govt backs decision to purchase vehicles for ACs

It is worth mentioning here that the member Sindh Assembly Muhammad Farooq of Jamaat-e-Islami filed a petition in the Sindh High Court arguing that an amount of Rs 2 billion is being released for double cabin vehicles, while Pakistan is currently facing severe economic challenges.

The petitioner further pleaded that the funds should be ordered to spend on welfare projects for general public.

Earlier to this, the Sindh government’s decision to purchase 138 double-cabin vehicles for Assistant Commissioners (ACs) has been challenged in the Sindh High Court (SHC).

As per details, the petition, filed by Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Muhammad Farooq, argued that the purchase is unnecessary and a waste of public funds.

READ: Sindh to give new vehicles worth Rs2bln to assistant commissioners

The petition stated that the country’s economy is under pressure, and the Sindh government’s decision to buy luxury vehicles for its officers is unreasonable.

It further stated that taxpayers’ money should be spent on public welfare, healthcare, and education instead.

The petitioner has requested the court to suspend the Sindh government’s notification and order the authorities to spend the funds on welfare projects instead. The Sindh government, Chief Secretary, Secretary Finance, and Board of Revenue have been made parties in the petition.