Non-release of funds to KMC hospitals: SHC orders finance department to submit reply

Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday ordered Sindh Finance Department to submit its reply in a petition related to non-release of funds to hospitals falls in the jurisdiction of Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC). A division bench of the SHC issued these orders after the KMC filed a petition seeking court orders to direct Sindh Finance Department for release of funds to thirteen hospitals under the management control of KMC.
The counsel for the KMC submitted before the court that Chief Minster Sindh had announced to release the funds for the hospitals of the KMC. Provincial Finance Department, however is not releasing the promised funds, announced by the Sindh CM.
The counsel stated that non-release of funds is making it hard for KMC to supply the required medicines and cater the other expenses of these hospitals. The bench directed Sindh Finance Minister to submit its reply in the petition of KMC by March 21, 2019.
Meanwhile, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told a division bench of the SHC investigation against an accused Saeed Hassan in corruption scam in the construction of Cooperative Market Saddar, Karachi is being closed down due to lack of evidence against him.
Director General NAB Karachi and investigation officer appeared in the hearing on court's orders, who informed the court that matter for closure of the case against the accused has been sent to NAB Chairman. Chief Justice SHC Ahmed Ali M Sheikh said that the court would not interfere in the working of NAB, however it would not tolerate the delay in the action against the accused and asked that NAB should furnish in writing when the action would be taken against the other accused.
Justice Sheikh that the contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against NAB officials if the action was not taken against the accused in the given timeframe.