KARACHl: The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to give a restraining order against a verdict of the Sindh High Court that had thrown out the petition of private schools in the city for increasing fee by more than five per cent.

Headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, a two-judge bench, however, admitted the appeal of the private schools against the SHC judgement for regular hearing.

The bench ordered that the appeal would be heard in the first week of February.

The private schools had challenged in the SHC the law stipulating them not to increase more than five per cent fee in an academic year.

Headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, a two-judge bench had ruled that no further enhancement shall be permitted until the re-registration of the schools, which had increased their tuition fee over 5pc per year during the past three years.

Meanwhile, the same bench dismissed the appeal of two individuals in the kidnapping case of PPP leader Pir Mazharul Haq.

Convicts Manzoor and Bhalio Pir were found guilty of kidnapping the PPP leader in 1997.

The victim was released after the payment of Rs500,000 after remaining in the captivity of the kidnappers for 37 days.

The convicts challenged their conviction in the high court, which dismissed their appeal against the judgement of the trial court.

Later, they moved the SC through an appeal against the judgement of the SHC.

The apex court upheld the SHC decision and dismissed the appeal of the convicts.