The Lahore High Court (LHC) admonished superintendent police (SP) of Welfare Department here on Wednesday and issued notices to Chief Purchase Officer Police (CPOP) and Senior Purchase Officer (SPO) and directed them to submit their replies till October 13 in two petitions of contractors providing boots and jackets to police department.
The petitioners Ayub Ali and Khalid, proprietors of Ayub Shoes Factory Lahore and proprietor of Usman Traders Lahore said they had been providing uniform, boots and other wearing articles to army, police and other government departments.
Ayub said the police gave tender notice but when he tried to get the tender documents the respondents denied saying that the documents would be issued only to Shafi (Pvt) or its authorised dealers. He alleged that to maintain monopoly of Shafi (Pvt), no other manufacturers were given chance to participate in the bid. He said, he was able to provide good and cheaper boots than Shafi (Pvt).
The other petitioner Khalid submitted that he was the manufacturer of jackets, tents and other uniform articles. Police invited tenders for 17,588 pieces of padded jackets manufactured only by M/s Valiant International. He said under this condition, all other manufacturers were barred even from participating in the bid.
The both petitioners prayed that respondents be directed to act in accordance with law and allow other manufacturers and suppliers to participate in the bid. They further prayed direction for the respondents to provide tender documents and specification of goods to them. Till the disposal of these petitions, the tender opening date, October 9, be stayed. The court however, refused to stop the tender process and ordered that it would be subject to decision of the petitions.