The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued an arrest warrant for Sindh Antiquities Department section officer Muhammad Khan Bhingwar for failing to appear in court despite judicial orders. A single-member bench, comprising Justice Agha Faisal, was hearing a contempt of court plea filed by the Karachi Gymkhana (KG) administration against Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director-general (DG) and others. According to the petitioners, Karachi Gymkhana (KG) was not a heritage building and could not be made one without a gazetted letter. The plea moved the court to restrict the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and Shallwani from hindering the gymkhana building’s renovation. The court directed the police to arrest Bhingwar and present him before the court on July 27. It also restricted the Sindh advocate general from pursuing the case on behalf of Shallwani and others. “The government lawyer cannot advocate for Shallwani and others in a contempt of court case,” remarked Justice Faisal, adding that the nominated parties could hire a private lawyer at their own expense. The Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani had submitted a reply at the last hearing, claiming that the contempt of court plea was baseless and he could not even contemplate disrespecting or violating judicial orders. Separately, the bench directed a petitioner to fix the next hearing of a plea against the construction of Aman Tower on land reserved for a public park and playground at Korangi Crossing, after the court’s vacations.
