The Sindh High Court on Wednesday issued notices to Privatisation Commission, Ministry of Industries and Production and others on petition against privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills and Privatisation Commission Ordinance, 2000.
Pakistan Steel People Workers Union, CBA, through its Chairman, Shamshad Ahmed Qureshi, and others, submitted that the federal government had decided to privatise PSM through unconstitutional process under the garb of Privatisation Commission Ordinance, which is contrary to Article 153 and 154 of the Constitution. The purported sale of shares and management control of PSM is being carried out without prior approval from the Council of Common Interests and without its supervision and control, in violation of Article 154 of the Constitution, the petition said.
It was also submitted that the process of privatisation and PC Ordinance are ultra vires of the Constitution and the same be declared illegal and unconstitutional. The petitioners said that land was provided by Sindh government for the purpose of establishment of PSM, and it could not be used for other commercial activities, mentioning that privatisation of PSM will create unemployment in the province.
The petition said that neither Sindh government has been consulted nor any guidelines or policies have been provided by CCI regarding proposed privatisation of PSM. SHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Ali Sain Dino Metlo, after preliminary hearing of the petition, issued notices to respondents for March 9, and called for their comments.